Police warn hunters to watch for meth trash

ALLEN Co., Ind. (WANE) - Indiana State Police are warning people about meth trash that has been dumped across state parks and roadways.

"Somebody called us saying they were tracking a deer they had shot and came across a meth trash in the area they were hunting," said Indiana State Police Sergeant Ron Galaviz, referring to a call they received on Sunday.

Sgt. Galaviz said there were common items in the trash that's visible and could be linked to being meth. Some of those items includes: battery casings, Ziploc style bags, empty blister packs and containers, including pop bottles or jars. Some pop bottles may have tubes coming from the top of them.

"It could still be releasing gases from what may still be a chemical reaction," said Sgt. Galaviz. "Some of those gases are very toxic and in fact, in some instances, can be deadly,"

That's why they encourage people to stay away from this type of trash if you come across it.

Indiana Conservation Police said during the hunting season, they receive numerous calls from hunters about seeing meth trash.

Officials said meth users choose areas in the woods where people are not likely to go, and then dump the evidence.

"They want to go somewhere they think is secluded, nobody's going to see them," said Indiana Conservation Police Sergeant Cora Showalter.

If someone comes across this type of trash, DO NOT handle it. Please contact the Indiana State Police Post in Fort Wayne at (260) 432-8661 or (800) 552-0976 (Indiana only).

If anyone has knowledge of meth production or activity in their area, they are asked to call the Indiana State Police Meth Tip Line at (800) 453-4756. Anonymous tips are accepted.