Staff Reports
Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team detectives arrested two people after discovering a working methamphetamine lab in a Bartholomew County home.
The detectives executed a search warrant at 6770 S. County Road 650W on Wednesday as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
Detectives located narcotics and paraphernalia inside the home of Troy E. Smith, 54, and Kelly D. Starke, 31, who both live at the 6770 S. County Road 650W address, Harris said.
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They also found evidence of a methamphetamine lab, with evidence of byproducts from previous production of the drug, found in the home, Harris said.
“They had been cooking meth in this home for awhile,” Harris said.
Indiana State Police lab technicians were brought in to assist with the investigation and cleanup, Harris said.
Based on the amount of methamphetamine byproduct found in the home, detectives estimated approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine had been produced in the home, Harris said.
While the detectives were inside in the home Wednesday, Smith and Starke returned home, but when they saw the officers, they attempted to flee in their vehicle, Harris said.
Officers used a tire deflation device and the couple were taken into custody a short time later, Harris said.
Smith was arrested on preliminary charges of:
Dealing in methamphetamine
Possession of a controlled substance
Possession of marijuana
Possession of methamphetamine
Maintaining a common nuisance
Illegal drug labs
Bartholomew County warrant
Possession of drug paraphernalia
He was being held in the Bartholomew County Jail in lieu of $921,000 bond, jail officials said.
Starke was arrested on preliminary charges of:
Possession of a controlled substance
Dealing in methamphetamine
Possession of marijuana
Possession of methamphetamine
Maintaining a common nuisance
Illegal drug labs
She was being held in jail in lieu of $351,000 bond, jail officials said.
The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team is a combined unit of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s office. The team was formed to target the manufacturing and abuse of dangerous drugs in Columbus and Bartholomew County.
