Police find meth lab in Bella Vista

BELLA VISTA — It had been almost two years since police in Bella Vista and Bentonville say they’ve investigated a methamphetamine lab.

On Tuesday, Bella Vista police, assisted by the Bentonville Police Department, searched a home at 56 Billingsley Drive and discovered a meth lab, according to a news release.

Anthony Wayne Dunham, 50, was arrested in connection with manufacturing of a controlled substance, two counts of possession of a controlled substance for methamphetamine and prescription pills, possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver, unauthorized use of another person’s property to facilitate certain crimes, distribution near certain facilities (within 1,000 feet of a church) and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, according to a news release.

Bella Vista Detective Ed Williams obtained a search warrant after he received a tip. Inside the house, police found narcotics, marijuana, a small amount of methamphetamine, methamphetamine cooking, eight soda bottles used to make meth and multiple paraphernalia items, police said.

The lab used the one-pot method, and the meth was cooking in a 2-liter soda bottle. Bentonville Cpl. Andy Ball and Lt. Tony Marveggio, both certified in identifying and securing meth labs, assisted in the lab cleanup. Material are stored temporarily in a safe pod by the Arkansas State Police and the DEA, before being disposed of, police said.

Police also found a dog, cat and bird at the home.

At the time of the search, Dunham was in the Benton County Jail, after being arrested July 24 by Rogers police in connection with delivery of methamphetamine. Bella Vista police served their arrest warrant at the jail, where Dunham is being held with no bond set in connection with the Bella Vista arrest.

The cordoned-off home will require a cleanout process, according to Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality regulations.

Dunham