LPD makes second arrest in meth case

By Eloria Newell James, community@laurelleadercall.com

The Laurel Police Department has been able to put the second suspected “meth lab operator” behind bars.

After a week of searching, LPD Narcotics Agent Michael Tolbert reported that Thomas Ray Gibson was taken into custody in Sandersville during the Thanksgiving holidays in connection with an ongoing drug investigation.

Tolbert said Gibson was taken into custody at a residence on Mitchell Street in Sandersville without incident.

Joshua Ulmer was taken into custody by law enforcement officials last week in connection with the same drug investigation.

According to officials, Ulmer, 28, of Flowers Drive in Laurel and Gibson, in his 30s, also of Flowers Drive, were arrested after several weeks of investigation by Laurel narcotic agents.

Tolbert said Ulmer’s and Gibson’s arrests are the result of an extensive investigation, as well as, community awareness and support.

“They had been the focus of an investigation into the sale of narcotics by this agency for some time,” Tolbert said. “We were able to close the case on this due to information we received.”

Tolbert said once the narcotics division received the information needed, agents requested a search warrant of a residence located at 529 Flowers Drive.

Lt. Ken Williams and Tolbert executed the search warrant of the Flowers Drive residence. Ulmer was the only person at the residence at that time.

“Once we got in there, we discovered that there was a crystal methamphetamine lab being operated at this residence,” he said. “There was methamphetamine — finished product, as well as chemicals used to make meth. ... It was an active meth lab.”

During the search of the residence, Tolbert said, officers found approximately four grams of finished methamphetamine, several chemicals used to make methamphetamine and some cash.

Officials said Ulmer was staying at the residence with Thomas Ray Gibson, who is believed to be the owner of the residence.

Tolbert said Gibson and Ulmer are both believed to have been involved in the manufacturing of the methamphetamine.

Officials said because of the items seized in the incident, they were both charged with one count each of possession of crystal methamphetamine and one count of possession of precursor chemicals with intent to manufacture methamphetamine.

Tolbert said because of narcotics agents’ finds, state officials were notified.

“The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics was called in to assist us at the residence,” Tolbert said. “MBN assisted us in pulling the samples and the clean up process.”

Tolbert said the meth lab has successfully been cleaned up and removed from the neighborhood.

Tolbert said Ulmer and Gibson are believed to have been operating the meth lab in the city limits of Laurel for some time. The narcotics agent said law enforcement officials are thankful to citizens for their help.

Tolbert said public information made a difference in this case.

“We are thankful for the citizens who reported the activities at this residence and called us with information,” the narcotics agent said. “ Manufacturing methamphetamine in the city is very uncommon and we don’t want it here,” Tolbert said. “We are not going to tolerate this here.”

In connection with their arrests, Ulmer and Gibson were booked into the Jones County Adult Detention Center. They both had their initial court appearances in Laurel Municipal Court.

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