June 11, 2002

Allegan, Michigan. Local, state, and federal law enforcement officials announced today the results of the Allegan County Methamphetamine Task Force. The task force was established in February 2002 due to the large number of methamphetamine labs and criminal activity associated with methamphetamine in Allegan County. The task force compiled a top-ten target list and by the end of April, nine of the ten suspects had been arrested. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is currently reviewing the tenth case.

Results of the task force initiatives included 19 methamphetamine labs seized, 42 arrests made, and 23 additional arrests pending. Four suspects were indicted federally and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is currently reviewing the cases of four additional suspects on possible federal firearm violations. In all, the Allegan County Task Force was able to identify more than 338 suspects involved in the illegal manufacturing, trafficking, or use of methamphetamine.

Allegan City Police Chief Rick Hoyer originated the idea of a special task force. Participants in the task force included Allegan County Police Department, Michigan State Police, Criminal Investigation Division, Lansing, West Michigan Enforcement Team (WEMET), Allegan County Sheriff’s Department, Plainwell Police Department, Saugatuck/Douglas Police Department, Allegan County Prosecutor’s Office, the DEA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In addition, two officers from the Michigan State Police Criminal Intelligence Unit assisted in gathering and documenting all suspect investigation and case information.

"We have put a major dent into methamphetamine manufacturing, trafficking, and use in Allegan County," said Chief Hoyer. "However, just because the task force has completed their assignment, don’t think for a minute we are relaxing our efforts to continue to remove methamphetamine from this area. Methamphetamine is a serious, deadly drug that cannot be tolerated."

Allegan County was identified as one of the major hot spots for the manufacturing and trafficking of methamphetamine in Michigan. Since 1997, 60 methamphetamine labs have been discovered and seized in Allegan County. A total of 251 labs have been seized statewide during the same time period. In the two weeks since the Allegan County Methamphetamine Task Force disbanded, WEMET has responded to only one report of a methamphetamine lab.

"The combined commitment between the community, law enforcement, and the private sector has resulted in the success of this task force," said D/F/Lt. John Porter, commander of WEMET. "The seriousness of the methamphetamine problem in Allegan County was such that all law enforcement agencies in the county were impacted. At one point, WEMET was responding to methamphetamine labs and nothing else. In addition, the majority of crimes within the county were methamphetamine related, including an officer shooting."

In addition to the law enforcement efforts, authorities also gained community support and awareness through educational programs with retailers, farmers, and state and federal agency field workers. As a result of these educational efforts, many retailers in Allegan County are now reporting a decrease in the sales of excessive pseudoephedrine based products, one of the main ingredients in producing methamphetamine.

Top-Ten List arrests made as a result of Allegan County Methamphetamine Task activities:

Brian Bender, age 30, Holland, Michigan

Sheryl Burgen, age 35, Allegan, Michigan

Gilbert Burkhead, age 31, Allegan, Michigan

Curtis Butler, age 39, Holland, Michigan

Gary Crisman, age 38, Allegan, Michigan

Carl Frandsen, age 33, Allegan, Michigan

Angela Grauman, age 27, Plainwell, Michigan

Stephen Pelikan, age 37, Plainwell, Michigan

Michael Russell, age 46, Martin, Michigan

Read more press releases from the Michigan State Police.