(Spencer)– An Alabama man is in the Clay county jail on a meth charge.
Spencer police have charged 42-year-old Richard Lee Clanton of Carbon Hill, Alabama with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine…a class “C” felony.
Police say Clanton was arrested last evening after they received a report from a local grocery store of a man buying an unusual amount of pseudoephedrine…a known precursor to the manufacture of methamphetamine. A clerk gave police a description of the suspect and vehicle. Police located it a short time later and observed Clanton purchasing the pseudoephedrine in other stores. Authorities then conducted a search of the vehicle Clanton was in that turned up over 3,100 tablets of pseudoephedrine. Police then learned that Clanton is an over-the-road truck driver and that he allegedly made stops at other stores in and around Spencer to purchase pseudoephedrine.
Authorities allege Clanton was transporting the pseudoephedrine…a common ingredient in over-the-counter decongestants…back to Alabama to manufacture methamphetamine.
Authorities estimate the 3,100 tablets would be enough to produce about 30 grams of pure methamphetamine.
Bond for Clanton has been set at 13-thousand dollars.
