New Way To Make Meth Puts Officers, Public In Danger

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - As narcotic agents work hard to battle the meth problem, there's a new version that's cheaper and easier to make. They call the method Shake and Bake and it's putting police and the public in danger.

The days of multiple tools and hours to make the drug Meth are being eliminated by the new process which takes 30 minutes.

Three weeks ago one man in Lauderdale County blew one of his arms off while making meth using the Shake and Bake method. Another man in Robertson County severally burned half of his face.

"In Warren County, we've had a lot of meth labs. We've always been the top two or three in the state as far as taking down meth labs," said Warren County Sheriff Jackie Mathney.

Mathney said in 80 percent of the county's meth busts, the makers were using the Shake and Bake method, also called one pot because the maker only uses a plastic 2 liter bottle during the process.
Search for Meth Lab locations

The chemicals are mixed together and within minutes there are flames which can cause a fire or an explosion.

"The fumes are very toxic and dangerous. The fact that is could blow-up is very dangerous, so yes it's a very dangerous method," said Mathney.

Two years ago, Metro police discovered a meth lab across the street from Ricky Poll's South Nashville home.

"I came home one day and saw yellow signs all around the front yard," said Poll.

He said the part that frightened his family the most was that they never knew what was going on.

"It looks like a safe home, but they are doing all these things behind it. It's scary," said Poll.

Statewide there have been nearly 1,000 meth labs reported by the Tennessee Meth Task Force. During 60 percent of those seizures, the Shake and Bake method was used.