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Last updated on Monday, August 12, 2013
(LAGRANGE COUNTY) - A wanted person investigation led to a large-scale methamphetamine investigation after police found 21 meth labs inside of a LaGrange County home Friday night.
According to the LaGrange County Sheriff's Department's Facebook page, officers went to a home located at 215 Michigan Street in Topeka, Indiana, about 11 miles south of Shipshewana, around 11 p.m. Friday after receiving a tip that a wanted person was residing at that home.
When officers arrived, they saw two people through an open window, shaking what they believed was a meth lab. The officers also noticed the two people sitting around multiple meth precursors inside of the home.
The officers, who were part of the Topeka Police Department, immediately called the LaGrange County Sheriff's Department and the Wolcottville Police Department for assistance, due to the dangerous activity they believed was going on inside of the home.
According to police, officers made contact with the people in the house at around 11:30 p.m. The two were immediately detained and the property was secured.
Officers then requested assistance at the scene from the Indiana State Police Methamphetamine Lab Team. Officials also submitted a request to the LaGrange County Superior Court Judge for a search warrant.
Police said a search warrant was granted at 1:58 a.m. Saturday.
According to officials, during the three hour search, police found 21 one pot meth labs, along with meth precursors, paraphernalia, and toxic waste associated with the manufacture of meth. Police said some of the labs were active, while others were inactive.
Police also found seven firearms, including multiple long guns and handguns (see photo above). Officials said a loaded small caliber handgun, a Tec-9 9mm handgun, and an assault style rifle, along with several hundred rounds of ammunition were found with an active meth lab.
Police arrested the two residents of the Michigan Street home, Justin M. Harrington, 28, and April A. Bradley, also 28, following the search.
Harrington faces the following charges:
Manufacturing/Dealing Methamphetamine
Possession of Precursors with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine
Maintaining a Common Nuisance
Illegal Dumping of methamphetamine waste
Possession of Paraphernalia
Bradley faces the following charges:
Manufacturing/Dealing Methamphetamine
Possession of Precursors with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine
Maintaining a Common Nuisance
Illegal Dumping of methamphetamine waste
Possession of Paraphernalia
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