Son says father sent him to steal meth items
A local father faces drug charges after he allegedly sent his 15-year-old son into a Murfreesboro store to steal supplies to make methamphetamine this week.
The suspect, Jeffery Glen Earls, 43, of McMinnville is charged with conspiracy to manufacture meth, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and DUI. He was arrested by Murfreesboro police who found him apparently intoxicated in his car, waiting for his son to return with the stolen goods.
According to Murfreesboro police reports, Earls’ son was caught shoplifting cold tablets inside the Fred’s store on South Tennessee Boulevard. The boy reportedly told authorities his father sent him into the store to steal the items. Earls was caught circling the parking lot in his vehicle. Given his condition, lawmen suspected Earls was high on meth, leading to the driving under the influence charges.
A subsequent search of his vehicle netted 1,000 books of matches. The striker pads are often used to extract phosphorous to make meth. Lawmen also found several other meth components in the car.
“It was obvious he was going to manufacture meth,” said arresting officer Dave Norton, noting Earls will appear for hearing Sept. 9 in Murfreesboro.
The arrest of Earls is the latest in a growing number of arrests of Warren countians in nearby counties for shoplifting meth components. According to local authorities, some meth traffickers go out of town to either steal or purchase meth items to avoid suspicion here.