Arraignments were held Monday for two local men accused of allegedly operating a methamphetine laboratory near Mooreland. The two were arrested Sunday.
According to Woodward County Sheriff Gary Stanley, Gary Dale Palmer, 38, of Woodward and Jason Thomas Cates, 28, of Mooreland were discovered at the location near Mooreland by an off-duty deputy from Kansas, who was hunting.
The deputy, James Burnett, who had hunting rights on the property, contacted the Woodward County Sheriff’s Department, which along with the Oklahoma Beureau of Narcotics, sent deputies to the scene, Stanley said.
According to court affidavits, Palmer was charged with three counts: Bringing contraband into jail; possession of a controlled and dangerous substance -- methamphetamine; and manufacturing a controlled and dangerous substance -- methamphetamine.
Cates was charged with attempting to elude a peace officer and manufacturing a conrtolled and dangerous substance--methamphetamine.
Associate Judge Don Work set bond for Palmer at $150,000 and for Cates at $100,000.
Preliminary hearings for both were set for 9:30 a.m. June 2.
According to court affidavits, observation of Palmer and Cates began when Burnett allegedly saw them working a meth lab.
When Woodward County sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene, they saw Cates and Palmer traveling along a county road near Mooreland. As the two were being stopped, they refused to pull over and took off at a high rate of speed, according to court records.
Cates, the driver, finally pulled over on State Highway 50, according to Woodward County Deputy Brian Randolph.
In the affidavit, Randolph said, “We ... smelled an odor coming from the suspects’ vehicle. The odor was liquid chemicals used for manufacturing meth.”
Cates and Palmer were arrested and taken to the Woodward County Jail.
While they were being booked, a jail deputy allegedly a cigarette box containing three small baggies with a white powdery substance, according to court records. The cigarette box allegedly belonged to Palmer. The substance tested positive for methamphetamine.
During Palmer’s arraignment, Assistant District Attorney A.J. Laubhan said Palmer had several prior felony counts against him and that he had recently been released from prison.
Cates, Laubhan said, had four prior felony convictions.
