Here’s a story about persistence.

On Dec. 12, 2016, Butler police were called to 105 Elm Court for a reported disturbance.

While there, an alert patrolman spotted a clear plastic bottle containing a “bluish liquid” — a telltale sign of a possible meth lab.

It’s likely police were on the lookout — just three weeks earlier, a Butler Township cop had gotten a tip that people were cooking crystal meth at that address. Police were working on a confidential informant’s tip that Ross Cammisa, who lived at the Elm Court rental property, was cooking meth with a guy named James Kidd. Kidd had gotten out of prison just seven months earlier, having served 10 months for the same offense of cooking meth at a mobile home in Center Township.

The disturbance call provided an opportunity for police to look around without a warrant. In a trash bin outside, they found a cold compress bag that had been cut open. They found lithium battery packages and batteries that had been cut open.

Ice bags yield ammonia nitrate. Batteries contain lithium — both telltale ingredients of methamphetamine production and confirmation of the tip.

They also determined that Cammisa and his sister, Melissa M. Cammisa, who also lived there, had been buying heaps of pseudophedrine. The antihistamine’s use in meth manufacture is why federal law started to limit and track purchases of pseudophedrine in 2005.

James C. Kidd, 22 and Melissa Cammisa pleaded guilty to charges including operating a meth lab and risking a catastrophe. Both are serving state prison sentences.

Ross Cammisa pleaded not guilty to felony counts of manufacturing a controlled substance, conspiracy, operating a meth lab, possessing chemicals and other precursors with intent to manufacture a controlled substance, and risking a catastrophe. He was freed on $25,000 bail.

On Sunday, police returned to 105 Elm Court, responding to several complaints about suspected drug activity. They arrested Ross Cammisa and three other individuals for felony drug possession and seized suspected crack cocaine, heroin, prescription pills, marijuana and more than $7,000 in cash.

At a neighborhood drug watch meeting Wednesday night, Butler police Lt. Chad Rensel reminded the public that tips from residents are helping to turn the tide in the battle against drug dealers. He said tips and information from residents have helped start and advance investigations.

“We need as many phone calls as you can give us. We need as many emails as you can send us,” Rensel said.

The meeting was only sparsely attended. That should not be a discouraging sign. The Butler Eagle was there to cover the meeting and spread the information to a community that needs to remain vigilant.

We must remain diligent also. Addictions — and the money that fuels them — are incredibly strong motivators, requiring an even stronger community will to fight back.

Is it working? Maybe. So far in 2018, overdose fatalities stand at three in Butler County. That compares with 15 deaths in the county at the end of March 2017.

“Never give in. Never give in,” British Prime Minister Winston Churchill famously said. “Never, never, never, never — in nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense.” He might have been talking about Butler’s battle against drugs.

People can report suspected drug activity by calling 911 or by emailing the department at communityrelations@butlercitypd.com.