Sheriff Martin Pace and Warren County authorities destroy meth lab, several arrests made

Local units with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by an agent from the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, shut down a methamphetamine lab Tuesday morning. Several arrests were made at the scene.

At about 7 a.m. a search warrant was executed in the 100 block of Clear Creek Drive. Authorities discovered a methamphetamine operation as well as other drug-related manufacturing taking place at the residence.

Resident Richard Anthony Jordan Courtier (AJ), 32, was taken into custody and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of fentanyl. Richard Courtier also had an outstanding felony warrant out of the state of Louisiana. Also arrested was Linda Courtier, 73, for hindering prosecution. Another female was arrested on the scene for an outstanding misdemeanor warrant out of Vicksburg and was transported to the Vicksburg Police Department and turned over.

“We located, dismantled and destroyed a meth lab and also seized some finished product,” said Sheriff Pace. “We also seized a vial containing several milliliters of liquid fentanyl.”

Pace went on to say that a “powder product” was recovered which was used to make counterfeit pills.

“They use a powder binder and then put a small amount liquid fentanyl and they are selling it as counterfeit pain pills, such as Lortab and Narcos,” said Sheriff Pace.

According to Sheriff Pace, since there is no quality control on these products, one pill may not be enough to kill a person, but the next pill may have slightly more fentanyl and prove to be lethal.

Sheriff Pace extended his thanks to the Vicksburg Fire Department for their assistance in ensuring their safety while the warrant was executed.

“Thanks to Vicksburg Fire Department Deputy Chief Trey Martin. We appreciate that he had an ambulance with Vicksburg Fire Department medics on standby near the location. We knew we were going into an environment that had not only all the precursor chemicals of methamphetamine but also the possibility of fentanyl, either one of which, certain contact, including contact with the skin or inhalation, can be fatal.

Even though all of my officers carry Narcan, which is the binder that reverses the effects of the fentanyl, we still wanted to have the medics on standby because we knew we were going into a hot environment. Deputy Chief Martin was kind enough to have an ambulance with medics on standby less than a minute from where we were serving the warrant. They stayed there for the duration of the service of the warrant. My heartfelt appreciation [goes out] to the fire department for doing that for us.”

Sheriff’s Detective Jeff Meritt is leading the investigation. Several other county investigators and an agent with MBN are assisting.

Those arrested are expected to have an initial appearance in court Wednesday morning.