What started out as a response to a domestic battery call has led to the arrests of two individuals after Galesburg Police officers discovered a meth lab.
Officers were called out the the 100-block of Arthur Avenue on Saturday at around 6:30 p.m. in reference to a domestic violence call. Once on scene two women informed officers that they had been battered by a man, the ex-boyfriend of one of the women.
According to police reports, officers observed two men, one being 34-year-old Brandon R. Cox of Abingdon, leaving the scene heading north toward Lawrence Avenue. Officers stopped the two and questioned Cox about the allegations against him – which he denied.
Cox was searched, to which officers found no weapons. It was noted in the police reports that officers observed Cox to have a backpack, and as they approached he allegedly took it off and set it down. The other man, 42-year-old Jay A. Murdock of Galesburg, allegedly took possession of the bag.
The ex-girlfriend told officers that the two had been arguing which lead to the physical altercation. Cox was arrested for the domestic battery, and transported to the Knox County Jail for processing. Murdock departed the scene with the backpack.
After officers took the statement regarding the domestic battery, they were informed that it was believed Cox had suspicious and dangerous materials in the basement of the residence. The basement was searched, and officers allegedly located numerous amounts of methamphetamine manufacturing materials. It was stated that the ex-girlfriend was being intimidated by Cox and she was fearful of the materials he had, telling officers that she lived there with her child.
The Meth Response Team was contacted to safely remove the illegal materials. Officers allegedly found used tubing, hydrogen chloride generator, a “one-pot” plastic bottle mechanism with active liquid material, lithium, and various chemicals used in the manufacturing process.
All materials were concealed in different containers: a suitcase, backpacks, opaque bags, and kitty litter plastic tub.
With Cox leaving the residence, it was believed that he may have had meth making materials in the backpack he was seen carrying and which he gave to Murdock.
Officers went looking for Murdock but did not immediately find him. He wasn’t located until 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning at JB Hawks on North Henderson Street.
He allegedly told officers that he believed clothes were in the backpack, and when Cox was arrested he left the backpack near the intersection of Lawrence Avenue and Frank Street. After officers expressed the need to find it, he admitted it was still with him.
With the assumption that the backpack contained meth making materials, officers removed it from the premise and searched it outside. Officers did not find meth making materials, but did find 2.5 grams of a white powder they suspected to be meth, as well as 0.5 grams of what field tested positive for crystal meth. Also found were lithium batteries, a switchblade style knife, a glass smoking device, aluminium foil, and a coffee filter with white powder that smelled of chemicals.
Murdock was arrested and transported to the Knox County Jail. According to police reports when Cox observed Murdock’s arrival at the jail, he allegedly voluntarily stated that the contents of the backpack and everything at the residence belonged to him.
Police reports indicate that because the materials were found in the home of a child, Cox is being charged with Class X felony of aggravated participation in meth production. Class X felonies carry a statutory prison sentence of 6-30 years. He is also charged with Class 2 felony of possession of meth manufacturing materials, and class 3 meth possession.
Cox is currently on trial for similar charges including Class X felonies of aggravated meth manufacturing as well as manufacturing and delivery of the drug.
Murdock had a warrant out of Mercer County, which he was arrested on.
They await their detention hearing in Knox County Circuit Court.
