Another arrest connected to Methamphetamine

This mobile Methamphetamine lab was removed from the Camaro, parked at Brian Curtis Neligh’s residence, Monday night. Neligh is one of six individuals arrested on Methamphetamine charges after a traffic stop resulted in a multi-agency investigation.

GRAFTON – Brian Curtis Neligh, of Briarcliff Apartments, was arrested Wednesday afternoon in connection with Monday night’s Methamphetamine investigation. Neligh has been arraigned in Taylor County Magistrate Court for manufacturing a controlled substance.

According to a criminal complaint, obtained by the Mountain Statesman, law enforcement officers, through active investigation, received information regarding an active clandestine Methamphetamine lab in a vehicle belonging to Bruce Wayne Hastings, Jr., parked at Briarcliff Apartments in Grafton.

Upon approaching the vehicle, a green Chevrolet Camaro, officer’s smelled a strong chemical odor. Law enforcement officers secured the scene, and a qualified expert in Methamphetamine labs was notified.

Upon the expert’s arrival, the Methamphetamine lab was secured and dismantled.

Upon further investigation, substantiated by eyewitness accounts and sworn statements, determined that the vehicle was in the care and custody of Neligh. A search warrant was executed at Neligh’s residence, which resulted in the discovery of drug paraphernalia consistent with the use and ingestion of Methamphetamine.

“These mobile Methamphetamine labs are extremely dangerous,” stated Taylor County Prosecuting Attorney, John L. Bord. “They are dangerous, not only to the person ‘cooking’ the drug in the car, but also to anyone near the car. They have been known to explode.”

The arrest of Neligh makes a total of six individuals arrested in connection with Monday night’s investigation, which all started after a traffic stop of a Dodge Neon on Route 50. The traffic stop resulted in the eventual arrest of Bruce Wayne Hastings, Jr., Stephanie Parish, Macel Joann Workman, Brandon Scott Andrich, and Justin Michael Turner Monday night, and the arrest of Neligh on Wednesday afternoon.

“We were very fortunate to have shut these labs down,” Bord stated. “The joint effort between the Grafton Police Department, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Department, and the West Virginia State Police was outstanding. We were all out all night. It was due to the efforts of our law enforcement officers, that these dangerous chemicals were taken off the street.”

Neligh has been charged with manufacturing a controlled substance. Hastings has been charged with four counts of manufacturing a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. Parish has been charged with four counts of manufacturing a controlled substance. Workman, Abdrich, and Turner, have all been charged with conspiracy to commit manufacturing of a controlled substance.