Two people were arrested on trafficking and various other drug charges after a police officer discovered the two at the SRS Anhydrous Ammonia Storage Yard just east of Gore after midnight on June 7.

Gore Police Chief Jerry Fields found Thurman Leroy Phelps, 51, of Wilburton and Darla Michele Thurman, 31, of McAlester, while he was on a routine patrol heading east on U.S. Highway 64.

When Fields entered the storage yard he saw Phelps on the ground by the tanks and he saw Thurman jump into the cab of a truck. Three times Fields ordered Thurman to get out and lay on the ground with no response or compliance from Thurman.

“I fired on warning shot over the truck and Thurman finally complied by exiting the vehicle and getting on the ground,” Fields said.

According to the report, Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Deputy Eric Cope arrived shortly after Fields was able to get Thurman to comply. Thurman and Phelps were handcuffed. Cope found numerous green plastic bags containing a white crystal substance weighing about 20 grams, which tested positive for methamphetamines, and one plastic bag that contained five pills on Phelps during the safety pat down.

The authorities searched the vehicle and found five firearms, including a Sturm Ruger.223 caliber rifle with a scope and a Sturm Ruger P89 9mm semi-automatic pistol and two magazines. Also a storage tote containing items commonly used in the manufacture of meth, digital weight scales and numerous bags were found.

According to the report, the officers also discovered a five-gallon propane tank filled with anhydrous ammonia, another five-gallon bucket that was placed under the anhydrous ammonia tank and an oxygen tank.

Phelps and Thurman were charged in Sequoyah County District Court, Sallisaw, and both had their bond set at $100,000. Jail officials said Thurman and Phelps have not posted bond and they are still in the county jail as of Tuesday.

Phelps and Thurman were charged with trafficking in illegal drugs, manufacturing a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) with intent to manufacture, theft of anhydrous ammonia, tampering with anhydrous ammonia equipment, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

Thurman and Phelps court date is set for Wednesday in the Sequoyah County District Court, Sallisaw.

According to the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drug (OBNDD) Web site, theft of anhydrous ammonia fertilizer for production of the illegal drug methamphetamine has reached alarming proportions in the last few years.

Anhydrous ammonia is a key ingredient in the so-call “Nazi method” of methamphetamine production. Meth is a cheap, addictive stimulant that produces a powerful high along with such side effects as paranoia and violent behavior. Oklahoma is one of the nation’s largest producers of domestic methamphetamine according to the OBNDD Website.