Inmates accused of manufacturing meth behind Calvert school

Calvert City
employee
implicated in
crimes

By Misti Drew
Tribune-Courier News Editor
mdrew@tribunecourier.com

CALVERT CITY – A brush fire that erupted behind Calvert City Elementary School has led to the arrest of a Calvert City employee and accusations that state inmates were manufacturing methamphetamine in broad daylight.

Calvert City Police Chief David Elliott said the investigation was launched after police discovered a methamphetamine lab to have been the cause of the blaze.

Upon further investigation, Lexie Shayne Greer, 38, of Calvert City, was arrested Friday on charges of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.

Greer is accused of supplying the materials needed to state inmates who were participating in supervised community service, a program that allows state inmates to work in the community for .63 cents per day, a wage paid by the state.

Following Greer’s arrest on Friday, detectives, along with the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force drug dog Lacy, searched the Marshall County Detention Center. One inmate was reported to have been found with marijuana.

Police reports indicate Donald Crosier and John Cox have been identified as the two inmates involved. Charges are expected to be forthcoming pending further investigation.

While the community service program is considered to be controversial by some, Marshall County Jailer Roger Ford said of his detention center’s program, “it can be a great thing – it’s what the supervisors make of it. But if it’s not run correctly, it can be a horrible program.”

Ford said he provides approximately 50 state inmates to at least 10 various county and city agencies each day including the cities of Benton and Calvert, the refuge, Exceptional Center and Needline.

Ford added that it is important to note while he provides the inmates and the employees to take them to and from work-sites, each individual agency is responsible for providing supervision of the inmates while at work.

Of inmates being able to obtain the materials needed to manufacture methamphetamine, Ford said, “there is no way they could have gotten their hands on the things they need to manufacture meth. They are not allowed in any store, even with supervision.”

Calvert City Mayor Lynn Jones said of the investigation, “In a small town like Calvert City, things like this aren’t suppose to happen, but they do in the real world and this has been a good wake-up call for us.”

Jones said he was “saddened” by the irresponsible behavior of Greer, a long-time employee of the city.

Through the investigation of this case, Jones said “issues” have been discovered within the city’s drug-testing policy and procedure.

Recommendations to amend those concerns are expected to be made at the December meeting of the Calvert City Council.

“We will be making the necessary upgrades to the policy,” Jones said. “It will be stronger and better.”

Jones said he wished to commend the staff and their diligence in the oversight of this investigation and ensures the community that Chief David Elliot and the entire police force will be regarding the safety of the community and of the children as their highest priority.

Jones said he could certainly empathize with concerned parents in the community.

“My grandson is there at the elementary school,” Jones said. “And we have a lot of friends there. We are going to learn from this, make changes and be better for it.”

The investigation is currently ongoing. Additional charges may follow.

***NEW CHARGES UPDATE***

Charges have been handed down to three inmates of the Marshall County Detention Center in the wake of an on-going investigation by the Calvert City Police Department.

Since publication, Calvert City Police Chief David Elliott said charges have been issued on Jordan Kilgore, 22, for criminal facilitation. Kilgore has a cash bond in the amount of $2,500.

John A. Cox, 29, is charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, second offense, a class A felony that carries a cash bond of $75,000.

Donald D. Crosier, 35, is charged with manufacturing methamphetamine in the first degree. His bond is set at $50,000 cash.

Further details on the investigation are forthcoming.