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November 24, 2009

Arrest made in CESI

Toni Hopper

DUNCAN — An arrest was made Tuesday in the break-in and vandalism that took place at a Marlow chemical manufacturing plant sometime during the weekend.

Stephens County Sheriff Wayne McKinney said he picked up Corey James Lamont who was in custody at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations office in Lawton. The arrest was the result of a combined investigation between the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office and the OSBI.

“We do anticipate another arrest in the future,” McKinney said.

Lamont, a Duncan resident, was a former employee of CESI. During the weekend, the plant, located on State Highway 29 and Plainsman Road, just east of Marlow, was broke into and vandalized.

The plant produces chemicals for the oil industry and several tanks holding chemicals were opened and the chemicals were released into the plant. There were 16 tank valves that were opened. One of those tanks contained canola oil, a biodegradable product, was the only product to escape the plant and run into the road. Combined efforts of the Marlow Fire Department and Department of Environmental Quality cleaned up the products.

Some of the products were hazardous materials, McKinney said.

Marlow Fire Chief Jerome McCalvin said that the canola oil released from its holding tank cost about $26,000 to $27,000, and that the entire contents of chemicals released cost more than $100,000.

McKinney also said that some other items were removed from the plant during the burglary. McKinney transported James to the Stephens County Jail where he was booked into custody.

James has been charged with second degree burglary and felony vandalism in Stephens County District Court.



— Toni Hopper is a reporter for The Duncan Banner. She can be reached at 580-255-5354, Ext. 132 or by e-mail at: toni.hopper@duncanbanner.com

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