Columbia meth lab busted; four suspects arrested

COLUMBIA — Four Columbia residents were arrested Friday morning on suspicion of possessing and making methamphetamine and illegal possession of firearms.

Acting on a property search warrant for drugs and stolen property, the Boone County Sheriff’s Department, in cooperation with the Mid-Missouri Unified Strike Team and Narcotics Group (MUSTANG), found components of a meth lab, as well as  methamphetamine, 10 stolen guns, ammunition, marijuana and some drug paraphernalia in a mobile home in Green Hills Trailer Park, 7601 Highway VV, Lot 76, north of the city. The arrests occurred at about 7:05 a.m.

Timothy Whittle, 50, Jack Smith, 52, Amanda Dextre, 25, and Joshua Smith, 24, all from Columbia, were arrested.

Joshua Smith was released on a summons.

A 17-year-old female at the scene was determined to not be involved in the criminal activities and was released, according to a news release from the department.

Whittle was arrested on a warrant for a parole violation, and suspicion of one count of felony possession of a firearm, one count of creation of a controlled substance, receiving stolen property and possession of a controlled substance.

Jack Smith was arrested on suspicion of one count of felony possession of a firearm, creation of a controlled substance and receiving stolen property.

Dextre and Joshua Smith were both arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance.

Because Whittle had a warrant for a parole violation, he was sent to the Missouri Department of Corrections facility immediately after his arrest. Jack Smith was released on a $13,500 bond on Friday, and Dextre was still in custody at the Boone County Jail on Friday with a $4,500 bond. 

The guns found at the scene, including an assortment of rifles and shotguns, were stolen in a burglary late last month in Johnson County, said Clark Luntsford of the Boone County Sheriff's Department.