FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Stolen Truck Recovered, ‘Shake & Bake’ Meth Lab Discovered, Fugitive and Two Others Arrested After 5 Day Manhunt
Sheriff Mitch Ralston Reports:
On Friday afternoon, June 21, Sheriff’s detectives received a tip regarding the theft of a pick-up truck which had been reported stolen from a Dews Pond Road address on June 12. Acting on this information, detectives began investigating the activities of a number of people in and about the Resaca – Nickelsville area. Deputy sheriffs and detectives traveled to 423 Bowman Drive and attempted to question the occupants there. Detectives discovered the stolen truck in a pasture behind the house, and the tailgate from the truck on the back porch. The truck had received a new coat of paint. Deputies and detectives subsequently secured the dwelling, and obtained a search warrant for the premises. While waiting on the search warrant to be presented to the court, deputies watched as the home was approached by another man in a red pick up truck. When this driver saw the waiting officers, he attempted to flee from the scene at an unsafe speed in reverse gear. Deputies gave chase on foot and actually apprehended the man when he drove backwards into a ditch alongside the narrow roadway. The driver, Lee Alphia Grogan, age 44, of 2nd Avenue in Chatsworth, Georgia was arrested without further incident and charged with Driving (backwards) With a Suspended License, Failure to Maintain Lane, and Fleeing From Peace Officers (in reverse). Upon executing the search warrant, the detectives found farm equipment which had been reported stolen in the truck, as well as a very volatile methamphetamine manufacturing “lab” referred to as a “one pot method” or “shake and bake” lab. Detectives also found the chemicals and accessories commonly associated with the creation of methamphetamine. The two people who were at the home, Joseph Aaron Grogan, age 30, of 423 Bowman Drive, and Carol Lyn Nolan, age 47, of the same address, were arrested and charged with Criminal Attempt to Manufacture Methamphetamine, and Criminal Possession of Pseudoephedrine. They were both lodged in the county jail.
Continuing the investigation, detectives searched for the owner/principle occupant of 423 Bowman Drive on foot and in automobiles, and with the aid of the Sheriff’s Air Unit on Tuesday, for 5 days. Danny Bowman, age 56, remained at large until Thursday afternoon, June 27, when undercover Sheriff’s detectives located him in an automobile on Daisy Street near Resaca. Bowman offered no resistance and was arrested without incident. He has been charged with Receiving Stolen Property, Criminal Attempt to Manufacture Methamphetamine, and Criminal Possession of Pseudoephedrine, and is lodged in the county jail along with his co-defendants.
Sheriff Mitch Ralston said, “The ongoing nexus between the trafficking of methamphetamine, thefts, and burglary continues to present significant problems for local law enforcement. I am very pleased that this investigation was resolved swiftly, the stolen property returned to the rightful owner, and a very dangerous meth lab dismantled. ‘Shake and Bake’ meth labs are extraordinarily dangerous, as some of the ingredients are prone to spontaneous combustion. I encourage anyone who sees suspicious persons or activities which may be related to drug distribution to notify us immediately.”