Two arrested in ‘shake and bake’ bust

— Two men have been arrested in Garfield on drug charges.

On Thursday, Nov. 19, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office patrol division responded to Sommera suspiciouscircumstance call in the Garfield area. When deputies arrived, they locateda vehicle parked in the middle of the roadway and subsequently located four one-pot “shake and bake” methamphetamine labs and numerous other items used in the manufacturing process.

One of the cooking bottles was on the floor of the vehicle actively cooking when the deputies approached the vehicle.

The two people arrested were Stephen Sommer, 60, and David Ford, 29, both of Garfield.

Both have been chargedwith manufacturing a controlled substance (methamphetamine), a class Y felony;

possession of drug paraphernalia, a class C felony; and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (methamphetamine), and class Y felony.

Both subjects are currently being held in the Benton County Jail awaiting bond hearings.

Cattle theft solved

Persistence paid off as Benton County Sheriff’s Office investigator Audrey Thompson continued to pursue leads in a theft case. Assigned to the Oct. 1 theft reported by Steve Stobaugh of Pea Ridge, Thompson developed a suspect after locating the two saddles in Kansas Pawn Shops.

Stobaugh reported nine head of cattle, a 20-foot gooseneck stock trailer and two roping saddles stolen from his farm during the night.

The investigation led her to a farm in Lincoln, Ark. On Nov. 18, the trailer and the nine head of cattle were recovered and returned to the owner.

Investigation is continuing with warrants forthcoming for the suspects.

On the Record, Pages 3 on 11/25/2009