January 7, 2015
Two men charged after meth lab bust
HOMER — Police charged two men with third-degree unlawful manufacturing of methamphetamine, a felony, after busting a suspected meth lab on Route 90 around 8:30 p.m. Monday night.
Gordon R. Sutton, 33, of 969 Route 90, Homer, and Dennis M. Murray Jr., 36, of Maple Avenue, Cortland, have been charged with second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful disposal of methamphetamine laboratory material, felonies, in addition to manufacturing meth. The meth lab was at Sutton’s residence, said Lt. Todd Caufield with the Cortland County Sheriff’s Department.
Sutton was sent to the Cortland County Jail with bail set at $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond. Murray was sent to the jail without bail. Both are due to reappear in Homer Town Court on Jan. 20.
The Cortland County Sheriff’s Department received an anonymous tip of a possible meth lab at 969 Route 90 around 8 p.m., the department said. Police who responded saw a small number of people who appeared to be involved in making meth and evacuated the residence, the department said. Officers saw at least three people making meth, said Lt. Todd Caufield, who added that number could increase once the department conducts further interviews.
Caufield said Tuesday morning that five people were taken into custody, including two women and three men. The two women and the third man were released after questioning, he said this morning. Caufield declined to say what those three people were doing at the residence until investigators have interviewed more people.
“The investigation is still continuing, and other arrests are pending,” he said.
Police found materials used to manufacture meth at the scene, including Coleman fuel, lab equipment and some “one-pots,” which are bottles in which meth is made. Caufield said. One one-pot was active and a couple more were spent, he said.
The Cortland Community Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals removed two dogs from the property.
The New York State Police Contaminated Crime Scene Emergency Response Team also responded to the scene as did the Homer Fire Department, according to the sheriff’s department.
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