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Meth charges follow unusual cold medicine purchases
0618evasuzettehart
Eva Suzette Hart

An Oakwood man was arrested on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine after authorities got a tip that the man was buying unusual amounts of ingredients that can be used to make meth.

Harold Anthony Elrod, 36, and Eva Suzette Hart, 32, were arrested Wednesday after a search of their rental house in the 3000 block of Atlanta Highway, authorities said.

Hall County Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad Lt. Scott Ware said a Flowery Branch merchant reported to police that the man was coming into a store almost daily to buy matches and cold medicines. Phosphorus in matches and pseudoephedrine in cold medication can be used to make methamphetamine.

A Georgia law enacted in recent years limits the amount of cold medicine that can be bought at one time in order to curtail the home manufacture of meth, but Ware said there are no limits on how often it can be bought.

Ware said while searching the couple’s home, narcotics agents found small amounts of methamphetamine, marijuana and prescription drugs. They also found a crude device they suspected was used to make meth, and ingredients used to make meth.

It appeared Elrod was making only enough meth for personal use, Ware said.