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Man Arrested for Manufacturing Methamphetamine |
 Officers with the Lexington County Multi-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET) on Thursday, November 5 arrested a 19-year-old Gaston man after Lexington County Sheriff’s Department deputies found remnants of a methamphetamine laboratory at the man’s home.
Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts said NET officers arrested Timothy Dale Sightler, Jr., 19, of 123 Austin Court, Gaston, at about 5:21 p.m. on Thursday on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine and unlawfully disposing of waste from a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory. Sightler was being held on Friday, November 6 at the Lexington County Detention Center while awaiting a bond hearing.
While investigating a call about suspicious persons at Sightler’s home at about 1:53 p.m. on Thursday, Sgt. Kevin Howard and Deputy Kenneth Shearer smelled a chemical odor emanating from the home, Metts said. As a result of training that they had received, Howard and Shearer recognized the odor as a sign that a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory might have been operated at the home.
Howard saw three cans of Coleman camping fuel on the ground outside the home near a pit that had been dug into the ground in order to set items on fire and then burn them, Metts said. Howard also saw two empty tanks that had been used to store propane fuel. Howard recognized the aforementioned items as equipment that can be used to manufacture methamphetamine.
Howard contacted NET officers to further investigate the incident, Metts said. NET officers determined that Sightler previously had operated a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory at his home.
A company that contracts with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration went to Sightler’s home and removed the remnants of the clandestine methamphetamine laboratory that Sightler had operated at the residence, Metts said.
Citizens who want to anonymously report illegal drug activity can call CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC or call the NET Hotline at (803) 785-8411, Metts said.
NET is comprised of officers from the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Batesburg-Leesville Police Department, Cayce Department of Public Safety, Irmo Police Department and Lexington Police Department, Metts said. The sheriff and municipal police chiefs implemented NET in 2001 in order to enhance drug enforcement across Lexington County.
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