Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 115, No. 6	February 6, 2008

Suspected motel meth lab leads to drug dog

Photo by Larry See Jr.
A view of the exterior door and the housekeeping cart at the Super 8 Motel near where an alleged meth lab was found late last week. Motel owners are working with law enforcement to acquire a drug dog to inspect the facility during random weekly visits.

By LARRY SEE JR.
Messenger Staff

The training of a housekeeper at the Super 8 Motel has already paid dividends.

After a suspected meth lab was discovered late last week, that prompted motel co-owners Kenny Jenkins and Allen Hicks to investigate the possibility of acquiring a drug dog.

Kentucky State Police spokesperson Steve Pavey confirmed last week samples were taken from the room where the lab originated.

“We did have a detective go over there and collect some samples which leads him to believe there was a meth lab in operation,” Pavey said.

An ongoing investigation, including the review of videos from various stores and a bank is being conducted, Pavey said, in the hopes of tracking down the culprit.

“We’re working on making an arrest on this,” Pavey said, adding post officials were cooperating with law enforcement in southern Indiana regarding the situation.

“We are committed to being a drug-free business,” Jenkins said.

The dog would inspect the motel on random days, Jenkins said. The drug dog did make its first appearance last week.

The housekeeper, who was not identified, alerted manager Stacy Simmons to a substance splattered on the room’s wall at which time Brandenburg City Police were notified. When the housekeeper came upon the room, the occupant had already checked out, Simmons said.

Following that, the Meade County Fire Department was dispatched on the possibility of a hazardous materials situation. The Meade County Sheriff’s Department was also notified.

“We’re trying to do our part for this county and this community,” Jenkins said, adding that was the reasoning behind the drug dog.

Since it is still in the investigative stage, Jenkins didn’t know if there would be signs posted at the door informing guests of the dog, or even what they would say. He reiterated the dog would visit weekly on random days.

“The housekeepers check every room and they report to the manager any suspicious activity,” Jenkins said. “Stacy was the one who made the call to the law enforcement.”

“The housekeeper can tell you if somebody walked in and looked around,” Jenkins said. “Our housekeepers have been here for years and years and they are very well-trained.”

“This is a nice motel and it is a real nice asset to the county. We also have a large investment in this thing,” Jenkins said.

“The state police were out last night and they sampled the room and we’re waiting for the results,” Jenkins said. “We will follow 100 percent of their recommendations, whatever they say. We want to be as safe as safe can be.”

Being safe could mean the co-owners might have to replace everything from the bed to the carpeting and television in the room. Once results are known, the final bill will be tallied, Jenkins said, adding it came at a slow time for the business.

“This (the drug dog) is something we are doing as the owners,” Jenkins said. “We’re local and have lived here all of our lives. The manager and the housekeepers we have all live here locally. All of the employees work here day in and day out.”

“This is our way of trying to help combat the drug problem,” Hicks said.

Other motel guests had already departed for the day, Simmons said, thus they weren’t in harm’s way.

Jenkins said it is their intention to keep a nice, clean, neat motel.

“We’re not going to let the drug people ruin our reputation or our business,” Hicks said. “We want the community to be aware of what we’re trying to do and the steps we’re taking.”

Jenkins and Simmons had nothing but praise for local law enforcement.

“We have real good police protection,” Jenkins said. “They always go through our parking lot and check in at the front desk, especially on the third shift. They have done an exceptionally good job for us and they have even walked in to make sure the staff is ok.”

“Both the city and the county have done an exceptional job,” Simmons said.

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