Photo provided Photo provided JNET investigators found an active methamphetamine lab when serving a search warrant at a recreational vehicle parked at 608 Jewell St. in Columbus on Monday.
The local Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET) served search warrants on a recreational vehicle at 608 Jewell St. where an active methamphetamine lab was found, and later at 2401 Sixth St. in Columbus, resulting in a total of six arrests.
JNET served the warrants at 9:52 p.m. Monday, the result of two separate long-term investigations, said Bartholomew County Sheriff Detective Dane Duke, JNET spokesman.
The Columbus Police Department SWAT Team, which is made up Columbus Police Department officers as well as deputies from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, served the warrant warrant on Jewell Street and located large amounts of suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, a semi-automatic handgun as well as an active clandestine methamphetamine lab, Duke said.
After the discovery of the active methamphetamine lab, JNET requested the assistance of the Indiana State Police Meth Suppression Team from Versailles. The ISP Meth Suppression Team is a specialized unit that investigates violations and assists with proper disposal of suspected methamphetamine labs.
On Jewell Street, the following individuals were arrested and taken to the Bartholomew County Jail:
- Edwin Newland, 44, of 608 Jewell St., Columbus, dealing in methamphetamine, a Level 2 felony, manufacturing methamphetamine, a Level 2 felony, possession of methamphetamine, a Level 3 felony and maintaining a common nuisance, Level 6 felony. His bond was set at $67,500.
- Richard Vestal, 41, of 608 Jewell St., Columbus, visiting a common nuisance. His bond was set at $9,500
- Michelle Sanford, 32, of 608 Jewell St., Columbus, visiting a common nuisance. Her bond was set at $3,500.
- Mandy Dowden, 30, of 232 Della Road, Columbus visiting a common nuisance. Her bond was set at $3,500.
Columbus police officers executed the search warrant on 2401 Sixth St., where they located more than 20 grams of suspected methamphetamine and greater than 20 grams of various opioid drugs and marijuana, Duke said.
Individuals arrested at the Sixth Street address and taken to the Bartholomew County Jail were:
- Ricky Walker, 58, of 2401 Sixth St., Columbus, dealing in methamphetamine, a Level 2 felony, possession of methamphetamine, a Level 4 felony, dealing in narcotic drug, a Level 2 felony, possession of narcotic drug, a Level 4 felony and maintaining a common nuisance, a Level 6 felony. His bond was set at $335,000.
- Amanda Jo Williams, 34, of 8810 S. County Road 500W, Columbus, visiting a common nuisance. Her bond was set at $$3,500.
The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, a combined unit of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office, is proactively targeting the manufacturing and abuse of dangerous drugs in Columbus and Bartholomew County.
