Shopper's tip helps break up alleged meth lab

A tip from a shopper led Red Willow County sheriff's officers to a McCook residence that could have become a meth lab.

"It was an enormous tip," said Sgt. Burke Curl.

The McCook man remains in jail pending his arraignment in county court.

Curl said the McCook Police Department received an anonymous tip Friday evening that a shopper at Wal-Mart was buying items that could be used to make methamphetamine. "The caller knew this person was involved in drugs before," Lt. Alan Kotschwar said.

Curl said he could smell odors associated with meth manufacture when he talked to the suspect. The suspect refused to let officers search his residence, Curl said.

"When we executed a search warrant, we found items used and needed to manufacture meth," Curl said, "and the person was arrested."