Staff writer

PRINCETON-The illegal purchase of cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine led to the weekend arrest of five suspects in Gibson County and Princeton Police Dept. Chief Butch Davis said Monday more arrests are expected.

After checking local pharmacy logs that track purchases of medicines containing pseudoephedrine - commonly used as a meth precursor - arrest warrants were issued for five suspects. Served with warrants were Guillermo S. Salemie, of Princeton; Brian J. Snyder, of Fort Branch; Matthew P. Beloat, of Francisco; Yolanda K. Leach, of Fort Branch; and Carl H. Cotner III, of Princeton. The suspects were all charged with illegal purchase of three grams of pseudoephedrine within a seven-day period, a Class C misdemeanor.

Leach and Cotner were released after posting $450 bond. Salemie and Snyder were already in custody at the Gibson County Jail when they were served with their arrest warrants. According to the Gibson County Sheriff's Dept., Salemie was being held for operating while intoxicated and Snyder was in custody for a probation violation.

Beloat was arrested Saturday by the Indiana State Police for purchasing pseudoephedrine on several locations in Evansville in November and December 2005. He was transferred to the Vanderburgh County Jail and was released after posting $500 cash bond. Davis said Beloat will be charged in both counties.

Beloat will face a class A misdemeanor charge of the illegal purchase of three grams of pseudoephedrine within a seven-day period with a prior conviction of the same crime.

Pseudoephedrine is the major precursor used to manufacture meth and - according to a recently enacted Indiana law - businesses selling cold medicines containing the chemical are required to ask purchasers for photo identification and record the names of people who purchase these medicines.

The list of names is then cross-checked for persons buying more than the legal amount by law enforcement officials.

Davis said pharmacies and other stores which sell pseudoephedrine will call the police about individuals attempting to purchase pseudoephedrine frequently.

Gibson County Prosecutor Rob Krieg said the law controlling pseudoephedrine sales was written to help eliminate the meth problem in the state.

Some individuals who cook meth &#8220recruit" drug addicts to purchase precursors for them in exchange for meth, he said, and drug dealers develop networks of individuals to help them make the drug.

&#8220It takes more than one person to cook meth, and this law creates more hoops for drug dealers to jump through," Krieg said.

Both Krieg and Davis said other crimes such as domestic abuse, battery, child molestation and other criminal sexual conduct are often a result of the meth drug culture.

&#8220Even if we stopped all drug dealing in Gibson County today, there would still be a generation of kids seeing things they shouldn't be seeing at the age they are seeing them," said Krieg.

Meth is extremely addictive even after it's used only once, said Davis and addicts get to a point where they steal from their family and eventually even from strangers' homes.

&#8220You get hooked, you can't work, so eventually you start stealing to get the drug," Davis said. &#8220They will take everything they can from their families and friends."

Davis said the Princeton Police Dept. recently received a tip from a local pawn shop telling them a man was willing to sell two diamond rings valued at $8,000 for $200. Police later found the rings had been stolen out of a woman's home.

Gibson County ranks fourth in the number of meth labs discovered in 2004 in the state. In that year, there were 72 meth labs busted in Gibson County, as opposed to 83 in Vanderburgh County, Krieg said.

Davis said law enforcement has seen the number of meth labs discovered reduced, although vehicle labs are also common.

The city recently restructured the department so two officers will deal with the meth problem full-time, said Princeton Mayor Bob Hurst.

&#8220People have to know we won't tolerate illegal drugs in Princeton," Hurst said.

Davis said police have received tips on the department's drug tip-line and encourages the public to call 385-3900 to report suspected criminal activity.