SYRACUSE – At 7 p.m. Wednesday, the Syracuse Police Department investigated and arrested a man on an anonymous tip of drug activity at 303 E. Palm Drive.
Syracuse officers arrested 42-year-old Ronald Johnson, 303 W. Palm Drive, Syracuse, and preliminarily charged him with possession of methamphetamine and manufacturing methamphetamine. Johnson is being held on $20,000 bond at the Kosciusko County Jail.
During the investigation, officers discovered an active meth lab inside the garage of apartment 9 at this location. Further investigation into the meth lab revealed three one-pot labs and numerous precursors inside the garage. The apartment was located within 1,000 feet of a pre-school and day care center.
Due to the close proximity between the garage and a school, the charge of manufacturing meth is enhanced to a Class A felony and Johnson could face 20 to 50 years.
At the time of the officers’ arrival, there was one person, Johnson, located inside the garage and he was taken into custody.
During the investigation it was also determined that two children, ages 9 and 3, live at the apartment but were not home at the time of the bust. Since children lived at the home, the Department of Child Services was contacted.
The Indiana State Police Clandestine Lab Team was called to dismantle the lab and remove the chemicals.
Syracuse Police were assisted by the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force during the investigation.
