COLUMBUS, Ind. — Six people were arrested Monday when officers busted a meth lab in an RV and then seized more meth from a home in Bartholomew County.
The busts were the culmination of two long-term investigations by the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET).
According to JNET, investigators and members of the SWAT team served two search warrants just before 10 p.m.
The first was for an RV parked at 608 Jewell Street in Columbus.
During the search, officers found an active meth lab and seized "large amounts" of suspected meth, marijuana and a semi-automatic handgun, JNET said in a release.
When JNET found the meth lab, they called in the Indiana State Police Meth Suppression Team to investigate and help properly dispose of it.
Four Columbus residents were arrested during this search:
- Edwin Newland, 44: Preliminary charges of dealing meth, manufacturing meth, possession of meth and maintaining a common nuisance
- Richard Vestal, 41: Preliminary charge of visiting a common nuisance
- Michelle Sanford, 32: Preliminary charge of visiting a common nuisance
- Mandy Dowden, 30: Preliminary charge of visiting a common nuisance
Investigators searched a second home in the 2400 block of 6th Street in Columbus, where they found more than 20 grams of suspected meth and 20 grams of various opioid drugs and marijuana.
Two Columbus residents were arrested during this search:
- Ricky Walker, 58: Preliminary charges of dealing meth, possession of meth, dealing a narcotic drug, possession of a narcotic drug and maintaining a common nuisance
- Amanda Jo Williams, 34: Preliminary charge of visiting a common nuisance
JNET is made up of Bartholomew County deputies, Columbus police officers and members of the county prosecutor's office. The group aims to target people making and/or abusing drugs in Columbus and Bartholomew County.
