Three people have been arrested in connection with an alleged methamphetamine lab operating at a local motel.

“Concerned callers complained about what they believed was possible drug activity in a room of the Regency Inn (& Suites) at 407 S. 32nd St.,” said Officer William Bolling of the Special Investigations Unit of the Muskogee Police Department.

Arrested were: David Southern, 43, of 2115 S. 74th St. West; Clifford Jenkins, 47, of 115 Windsor Drive; and Jimmie Ruth Trent, 40, of 555 W. Clay, Chouteau.

Two search warrants were executed in adjacent rooms rented Monday morning by Southern, police said.

Police found items used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine, including iodine, phosphorous, pseudophedrine, coffee filters and lighter fluid, said Lt. Bryan Stark. Paraphernalia found included needles, smoke pots, scales and razor blades, Stark said.

“Clifford had some dope Stark got out of his pocket,” Bolling said.

It was what police believe to be methamphetamine wrapped in a coffee filter. It was still damp, “which is indicative of a fairly recent cook,” Bolling said. And in the middle of the white substance was an old, single-edge razor blade.

“They’d made a small batch, and luckily for us, we were able to get to them before they got it on the street,” Bolling said.

It is believed they’d already made a couple of grams and had a gram left, Stark said.

The suspects didn’t put up a fight, “but they weren’t going to help us out any,” Bolling said.

Iodine, which is used in the manufacture of meth, was found on and inside the microwave and running down the refrigerator, Bolling said.

Although microwaves are often used to cook drugs, generally a hot plate is used, Bolling said. Motel guests would not want to put food children might eat in a microwave where methamphetamine had been cooked, he said.

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