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Two adults and three juveniles face charges after being exposed to anhydrous ammonia early Sunday inside a vehicle north of the Elkhart-Kosciusko county line.
All five were taken into custody and then taken to Goshen General Hospital for decontamination.
Michael D. Mench, 20, of 1409 Workman Drive, Syracuse, and Cameron R. Mitchell, 22, of 43 EMS B42F Lane, Milford, were each preliminarily charged with possession of anhydrous ammonia and other precursors with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. Both were booked into the Elkhart County Jail.
One of the juveniles was released to a parent's custody and the other two were transported to the Elkhart County Juvenile Detention Center. All were preliminarily charged with possession of anhydrous ammonia and other precursors with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. None of the juveniles' names was released.
According to a press release issued by the Syracuse Police Department, an officer from that department found three people exiting a vehicle on CR 37 about 2:55 a.m. Sunday after the anhydrous ammonia exposure. Two other people were located walking along a road near the vehicle.
A check of the vehicle reportedly revealed the leaking anhydrous ammonia, as well as other ingredients used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
Assisting in the investigation were officers from Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department and North Webster Police Department and personnel from Syracuse Fire Department and Syracuse Emergency Medical Service.
The incident remains under investigation.
