Associated Press
MCKENNA — Residents decided they had had enough of methamphetamine trafficking at a makeshift camp down a secluded path from the fire station in this town south of Tacoma.
On Saturday 15 to 20 volunteers from McKenna and nearby Roy hacked through the brush and destroyed "the bunker," as drug users called it, a shelter slashed together from saplings in a wooded lot.
Then they removed debris left from the manufacture and use of meth, sometimes known as "crank," a highly addictive and illegal stimulant.
"We got tired of all these people wrecking our neighborhood," said Les Crocker, one of the volunteers from the Community Action Team. The group was formed to halt the spread of meth in the area.
Before going in with chain saws and other tools, members of the group checked with Pierce County sheriff’s deputies and health officials to make sure there were none of the toxic and potentially explosive chemicals that are often found at meth labs.
They also obtained permission from the property owner.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Rick Haltunen said activity at "the bunker" had declined before the cleanup because of increased community vigilance.
Team members have mounted video cameras to record activity on public and private property. Tapes of questionable activity are given to authorities.
More recently, volunteers began keeping a database of license plate numbers of vehicles with drivers or passengers they believe are acting suspiciously.
"You may have heard about community policing," Haltunen said. "This is what it’s all about."
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