Mobile Meth Lab Found
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
An employee of Maple Leaf Farms performing a routine check on the north side of the property stumbled upon an alleged mobile methamphetamine lab Monday morning.
According to Brooks Shirk of the Indiana State Police, around 6:15 a.m. Monday, an employee of Maple Leaf Farms was checking pumps on the north side of the company property when he saw a male and female at the trunk of a vehicle.
The man's presence startled the pair, causing them to drop several items, including a tank of anhydrous ammonia. The chemical began to react with the air, producing smoke as the man and woman fled the scene.
Brooks arrived at the scene where the smell of anhydrous ammonia was so strong it was difficult to get near the vehicle. Once he got close to the car, he discovered it was still running and in drive.
"Then (getting closer to the car) became a safety issue," said Shirk. "I held my breath, put the car in park and shut off the vehicle."
Based on the odor and other materials observed in the vehicle, Shirk determined that it was a mobile methamphetamine lab. He then contacted the Indiana State Police Clandestine Lab Team and the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force.
Kathryn Marie Pena, also known as Kathryn Marie Pearson, 34, of 90 EMS B38 Lane, Leesburg, was apprehended near the scene of the incident at CR 900N in Milford. She was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 12:59 p.m. Monday for allegedly dealing a controlled substance, three counts of possession of legends or precursors, possession of narcotics, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, dealing methamphetamine in possession of a firearm and two counts of check deception. Her bond was set at $11,500.
According to a member of the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force, Pena allegedly was running a mobile methamphetamine lab out of a vehicle, traveling to different locations throughout the county, trespassing and parking in various locations to set up the lab and produce methamphetamine.
The identity of the other occupant of the vehicle is unknown at this time.
The incident remains under investigation by the Indiana State Police. They were assisted in their investigation by the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force, the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, and the ISP Clandestine Lab Team. [[In-content Ad]]
An employee of Maple Leaf Farms performing a routine check on the north side of the property stumbled upon an alleged mobile methamphetamine lab Monday morning.
According to Brooks Shirk of the Indiana State Police, around 6:15 a.m. Monday, an employee of Maple Leaf Farms was checking pumps on the north side of the company property when he saw a male and female at the trunk of a vehicle.
The man's presence startled the pair, causing them to drop several items, including a tank of anhydrous ammonia. The chemical began to react with the air, producing smoke as the man and woman fled the scene.
Brooks arrived at the scene where the smell of anhydrous ammonia was so strong it was difficult to get near the vehicle. Once he got close to the car, he discovered it was still running and in drive.
"Then (getting closer to the car) became a safety issue," said Shirk. "I held my breath, put the car in park and shut off the vehicle."
Based on the odor and other materials observed in the vehicle, Shirk determined that it was a mobile methamphetamine lab. He then contacted the Indiana State Police Clandestine Lab Team and the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force.
Kathryn Marie Pena, also known as Kathryn Marie Pearson, 34, of 90 EMS B38 Lane, Leesburg, was apprehended near the scene of the incident at CR 900N in Milford. She was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 12:59 p.m. Monday for allegedly dealing a controlled substance, three counts of possession of legends or precursors, possession of narcotics, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, dealing methamphetamine in possession of a firearm and two counts of check deception. Her bond was set at $11,500.
According to a member of the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force, Pena allegedly was running a mobile methamphetamine lab out of a vehicle, traveling to different locations throughout the county, trespassing and parking in various locations to set up the lab and produce methamphetamine.
The identity of the other occupant of the vehicle is unknown at this time.
The incident remains under investigation by the Indiana State Police. They were assisted in their investigation by the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force, the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, and the ISP Clandestine Lab Team. [[In-content Ad]]