Tahlequah Daily Press

Local News

June 15, 2009

Chemical odor leads to man’s arrest

Local authorities apprehended a local man this week after a chemical smell was emanating from his motel room.

Michael Wayne Collins, 37, gave law enforcement permission to search his River City Motel room. Tahlequah police were initially called to the location, but later sheriff’s deputies, District 27 drug task force agents, Cherokee Nation marshals and federal authorities were involved in the investigation.

Reports state Collins admitted cooking some methamphetamine in the room. Chemicals commonly associated with methamphetamine manufacturing and a plastic bottle containing a crystalline substance were seized.

Collins was arrested on charges of manufacturing a controlled drug and possession of a controlled drug. His bond was set at $60,000. He has been ordered to return to court June 23 for a formal arraignment on his new charges.

Cherokee County court records show Collins received a deferred three-year judgment on drug possession charges in 2005, but a violation report was filed in 2006. There is no record that an application to accelerate the deferred judgment has been filed.

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The use of cell phones while driving is increasingly becoming an issue. What do you think about cell phone use by emergency personnel, like law enforcement officers, EMTs, firemen, etc.?

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