The discovery and disposal of yet another meth lab has been made by local law enforcement officers, resulting in the arrest of a local man.

This latest development followed the arrest of an Albany woman in Livingston, Tennessee, who later notified local authorities about developments that eventually led to the discovery of the lab at a Clinton County residence.

After being contacted by Tennessee authorities about the arrest in Livingston, Clinton County Deputy Sheriff Jim Guffey found a “shake and bake” meth lab at Ronald Daniels’ residents.

Daniels was arrested on April 22, and charged with manufacturing methampheta-mine, possession of a meth precursor, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of meth.

“After I talked to the owner of the house, I was given permission to search the residence,” Guffey said.

Guffey was assisted in his investigation by Albany Police Officer Mark Bell, Sheriff Deputy Dustin Lowhorn and Kentucky State Police Officer David Long.

“We made the determination to call in the clean up team because of the chemicals that were present,” Guffey said. “It wasn’t active, but it was in different stages. Samples were taken and have been sent to the lab for analysis.

Daniels’ arrests came after the arrest of Leah Claborn, 23, of Albany on Wednesday, April. 23, in Livingston, Tennessee, following a traffic stop.

Livingston Police Chief Greg Etheridge stopped the vehicle Claborn was in to question Claborn in a case related to the purchase of Sudafed/ephedrine for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine.

After permission to search was granted, Etheridge found a plastic container with iodized salt and drain cleaner in the vehicle.

Officers also found a loaded hypodermic needle, a spoon with residue, cut straws, a bowl with powder residue, Coleman fuel, Mason jars and a measuring cup.

Claborn was charged by Tennessee authorities with Promotion of Methamphetamine for Manufacture within 1,000 feet of a school zone.

After Claborn was arrested, Etheridge contacted Pickett County Sheriff Dana Dowdy, who then contacted the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department and Albany Police Department.

Law enforcement in the county, including the Kentucky State Police are still cracking down on meth labs in the area.

Sheriff Rick Riddle said the “meth scene” is starting to get popular again.

“It seems like it has picked up a little bit … during the trash clean up two weeks ago, there were three different spots in the county where pieces of a meth lab were found on the side of the road,” Riddle said. “There was one on Hwy. 1351, Hwy. 350 and Hogback Road where they found bottles that had been used for manufacturing meth. That goes along with people walking and picking up trash, in ditches … people just need to be careful what they pick up. Most of the harmful items will be 20-ounce bottles or 2-liter bottles.”

Riddle said the items discarded on the side of the road were “one-step” items or pieces of a meth lab that can be disposed of quickly.

“They are basically driving down the road when they get done making meth and they toss it out of a vehicle,” Riddle said. “It’s dangerous for kids or anybody. One of the bottles was actually at a residence in a yard. They don’t care where they throw the bottles out.”

With the growing season here, Riddle said marijuana will start making an appearance.

“We will probably start getting calls on marijuana here in the upcoming months,” Riddle said. “Working with other agencies I think has made a big difference.”

With the rising popularity of meth among drug dealers, Riddle said it is getting to the point where the county officers will have to be certified for taking down meth labs.

Right now, the Kentucky State Police Drug Task Force has certified officers with the training and equipment to handle the chemicals and drug products coming from meth labs that are found.

“The state police does a really good job in helping us take down these labs, but I foresee, in the future, the police departments in the county having to get certified to handle these labs,” Riddle said. “We can’t just throw this stuff in the dumpsters. Most of the stuff from the meth labs have to be overpacked and sent off to be incinerated. The state police has been really good to work with us and do all of this for us.”