LPD investigation leads to another meth arrest

A warrant was issued Thursday afternoon for the arrest of Levi Elkins, 18, Linton, and he was taken into custody by Linton police officers Thursday evening.

He is being held without bond.

Preliminary charges filed against Elkins in Greene Superior Court include aiding in dealing methamphetamine, a class B felony, and possession of chemical reagents or precursors with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine, a class D felony.

The investigation into Elkins' activities began in mid-April when evidence found during a search of a residence led officers to suspect he was involved in obtaining precursors for a suspected methamphetamine lab at Route 1, Box 173, Linton.

After the search on April 11, Mark E. Dickinson, 27, and Nicole L. Haldeman, 25, who both resided at the home, were arrested. Both were charged in Greene Superior Court with dealing in methamphetamine, a class B felony; possession of methamphetamine, a class D felony; possession of chemical reagents or precursors with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine, a class D felony; maintaining a common nuisance, a class D felony; and possession of paraphernalia, a class A misdemeanor.

According to the probable cause affidavits filed in all three cases, the operation came to the attention of Linton Police Department investigators when they checked the purchasing logs at local stores for pseudoephedrine/ephedrine buyers.

A traffic stop after another purchase at a local store led to a search of a vehicle, then the house -- after the children present in the home were removed to a secure location.

Inside a bedroom, officers observed iodized salt, coffee filters, pill residue, drain cleaner, starting fluid and a glass jar with an overwhelming odor of ammonia.

Officers then waited for the Indiana State Police Meth Clandestine Lab Team to arrive due to the chemical odors in the residence.

According to the affidavit, the Clandestine Lab Team recovered the following items: A plastic bag containing numerous coffee filters with pill dough; an empty bottle of Coleman Camp Fuel, a empty quart jar with a white powder residue, an empty bottle of Grease Lightning sulfuric acid, a punched and empty can of Prestone Starting Fluid, a bag containing a glass jar with filters and a strong ammonia odor, Drager 1 pump-100% sat. Ammonia (anhydrous ammonia); rubber inner tube with modified fitting, more glass jars with residue, an empty can of Sunny SideNaphtha, more coffee filters, an empty iodized salt container, an empty bottle of Liquid Lightning Sulfuric Acid, empty lithium battery casings, empty boxes of nasal decongestants, tubing light bulbs used as pipes, and a set of digital scales.

Also during the search, officers found a receipt for pseudoephedrine/ephedrine pills that had been purchased at Wal-Mart. The receipt was found in a sack containing empty blister packs and boxes of pills as well as lithium battery striplings and packaging.

Upon checking the logs kept by Wal-Mart, officers learned that Elkins was the person who purchased the pills. He had also purchased pills on other days from Wal-Mart and from the CVS Pharmacy in Bloomfield.

According to the affidavit, surveillance video from one day at store showed Elkins and Dickinson in the store -- one purchasing pills, one purchasing lithium batteries and Coleman Camp Fuel. Video footage showed both men getting into Elkins' car upon leaving the store.

The affidavit also notes that officers had observed Elkins' car at Haldeman and Dickinson's residence a short time before officers conducted the search on April 11.