Owners, patrons asked to be on lookout for signs of the dangerous drug-making

Wednesday, January 19, 2005

There have been at least three drug arrests this month inside local motels, leaving motel managers and law enforcement officers wondering how to handle what appears to be a growing problem.

About 18 months ago, the Bowling Green-Warren County Drug Task Force organized an hour-long presentation for the Bowling Green Area Lodging Association, teaching hotel and motel owners to look for signs that indicate drug trafficking.

They are very concerned about this, too, said Tommy Loving, task force director. It creates a very big expense for them.

There has been a large management turnover in the local hotel industry since the task force presentation, said Michael Nunn, current president of the Lodging Association. Nunn, general manager of the Hampton Inn, said the task force will likely speak to the group on the same topic again this spring.

Drug trafficking is a topic of constant discussion among Lodging Association members, Nunn said, as they are concerned about a national trend not yet seen in Bowling Green of trafficking drugs out of higher-priced hotels.

I feel like the people who are trying to do this sort of thing have moved out of the lower-priced motels because their managers are aware and are watching for them, Nunn said. They feel they may be able to slip in easier at the higher-priced motels and hotels.

Three of the most recent arrests at local motels involved individuals using or trafficking methamphetamine, a drug that Loving said can cause the most serious problems.

Anytime you have a meth lab, the toxic fumes exploding at different stages in the cook is definitely a possibility, he said. It depends on whats there, but, at minimum, if theres really an active lab in there, they may have to go in and replace any of the soft furniture, like the bed and linens and the entire room will have to be decontaminated by a private contractor.

He said methamphetamine labs in the past have been found in motels about four times a year something that will be higher this year if the trend continues. The motel is responsible for all cleanup costs, aside from the removal of the actual lab, which is handled by task force agents.

Indicators that there is a methamphetamine manufacturing process under way include a strong smell of ammonia, Loving said. Indicators can also include unusual items in the trash can, such as a large amount of Sudafed wrappers, drain cleaner bottles, lithium battery wrappers and starter fluid cans.

Those kinds of things together in the trash should be an indicator that something bads going on, he said.

He said if drugs are being sold from the motel room, there will be an unusually high volume of visitors during all hours of the day.

There is no particular motel that poses the greatest problem, Loving said, but the hotels closer to the interstate area seem to be the most frequented by drug abusers and traffickers.

I guess they want to be away from the center of town, he said.

Roy Patel, manager of Econo Lodge on Cumberland Trace Road a business that hasnt had any drug arrests on site in more than a year said his staff keeps a sharp eye on those who rent rooms.

If we know people are using or selling drugs, we dont rent to them, Patel said. We try to stop it. If we know someone is using or selling drugs in the room, we just tell them, Get out right now. We dont want those kinds of people on our property bad people who bring bad business.

Nunn said guest security comes first and foremost and his hotel also keeps a watch on renters.

We have warning signs to look for people packing in lots of stuff, like camping equipment or nitrous tanks, he said. Theres a pretty set formula for what these people do and its pretty easy to detect.

Our primary goal as a hotel, even above the comfort of our guests, is their security. Theres no end to the amount of trouble (meth) could cause, whether danger to life or limb from explosions or exposure to chemicals. We have kids here and you dont want to expose anyone to that.

Jeff Scruggs, director of the Barren County Drug Task Force, expressed frustration with state law as it stands now, which makes it impossible to charge someone with manufacturing methamphetamine unless all ingredients are present.

I hope thats going to change in the near future, he said. If you have every ingredient other than anhydrous ammonia, then, according to the law, you dont have a manufacturing case.

Individuals can instead be charged with criminal attempt to manufacture meth or, when found in possession of anhydrous ammonia, they can be charged with possession of anhydrous ammonia with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine.

Scruggs said the Barren County Drug Task Force has had drug busts primarily in Cave City motels. He suspects this is because of the towns close proximity to the interstate and the fact that Cave City has the largest concentration of motels in Barren County.

He said a woman was arrested Friday for possession of methamphetamine and other drug-related charges in Towne Motel in Glasgow and a meth lab was discovered in a Cave City motel within the last year.

Motel operators are there to rent rooms, of course, Scruggs said. Im sure if they knew someone was into that type of business, they would be hesitant to have them on their property. They dont have advance knowledge, but a lot of times they find out after the fact.

Loving said police have been getting ample cooperation from Bowling Green motel owners and managers.

I think the owners and operators are doing a good faith effort to monitor it, but when youre operating 100 or more rooms, its hard to know whats going on behind each door, he said.

Nunn echoed Lovings words with 131 rooms monitored by 12 staff members at best, it is crucial to have alert guests who are not afraid to report suspicious behavior, he said.

I think a lot of the burden of responsibility for noticing whats going on in hotels has to fall on the people going in, Nunn said. If somebody sees something going on in a hotel or motel or even in Wal-Mart, they need to report that. Its important for us to have the guests let us know about anything thats out of the ordinary. Suspicious activity should always be reported.

 Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700