Warsaw Police Narcotics officers were kept busy Monday responding to drug activity. Two men were arrested on drug charges in separate incidents, while police continue to search for another possible suspect in a third case. According to WPD Public Information Officer Kip Shuter, Mi Lindo Acapulco Mexican Restaurant and all the apartment units upstairs in the building at 217 E. Center St., Warsaw, were closed Monday while police responded to a one-pot meth lab in one of the apartments. A WPD press release states that around 8:30 p.m. Monday, Warsaw Police Narcotics officers were advised of an active meth lab at 213 E. Center St., Apt. A, downtown Warsaw. Responding officers did not locate anyone home, but did detect a strong ordor associated with the manufacturing of methamphetamine, Shuter said. Entry was gained into the apartment and officers located a very volatile active one-pot meth lab, according to Shuter. The apartment, adjoining apartments, and a downstairs restaurant were evacuated and the fire department was called fearing a pending explosion. The Indiana State Police clandestine lab team was called and cleaned up the scene. Due to the fumes, the Kosciusko County Health Department temporarily shut down the restaurant, according to the release. Police are looking for the resident of that apartment, Shuter said, but declined to give the resident’s name as the investigation is ongoing. He did indicate that he heard the restaurant was back open today. According to Patti Taylor, property owner, the renter was evicted and tomorrow is the last day of the lease. No one else was authorized to be in the apartment. She also said the rest of the building was not affected because the apartment is on a different HVAC system. Also on Monday, at approximately 5 p.m., Warsaw Police Narcotics officers were given a tip that there was an active meth lab at 3762 W. Old 30 on the west side of Warsaw. Warsaw Police and Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to the location but did not find anyone home. As officers were leaving, an officer spotted Jacob P. Miller walking in the area with a fishing pole and bucket. Miller had been named in the tip and officers stopped him. In the bucket, officers found methamphetamine in the manufacturing process. Miller, 40, of Warsaw, was arrested without incident and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on a class B felony charge of manufacturing methamphetamine. No bond was set. Then around 9:30 p.m., Warsaw Police Narcotics officers made an undercover purchase of marijuana and arrested Justin Z. Babendrager, 19, of Warsaw, according to the release. Undercover officers purchased approximately one pound of marijuana from Babendrager at a family housing complex located at 498 Clinic Court. One juvenile fled the scene and Warsaw police are currently looking for them. Another juvenile at the location was released. Babendrager was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on a class C felony charge of dealing in marijuana within a family housing complex. His bond was set at $5,000. Warsaw police were assisted by the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, Kosciusko County Probation Department, Kosciusko County Health Department, Indiana State Police, Warsaw Fire Department and the Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
