A Warsaw resident and two Syracuse residents were arrested on drug charges Wednesday.
Sarah Connolly, 28, of 3110 E. CR 100N, Syracuse, was arrested at 2:22 a.m. Wednesday for driving on a suspended license, possession of a syringe and meth. Bond was set at $5,250.
James Charters, 46, of 3110 E. CR 1000N, Syracuse, was arrested at 2:57 a.m. Wednesday for possession of meth and paraphernalia. Bond was set at $5,250.
Daniel K. Smith, 47, of 22 Argonne Road, Warsaw, was arrested at 3:38 a.m. Wednesday and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail. His bond was set at $10,250.
According to a probable cause affidavit from the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s office, Smith was charged with dealing methamphetamine, a level 5 felony; possession of methamphetamine, a level 6 felony; possession of two or more chemical reagents or precursors with intent to manufacture a controlled substance, a level 6 felony; and possession of a syringe, a level 6 felony.
The probable cause affidavit states that on Wednesday Warsaw Police Department Patrolman Sam Weaver made a traffic stop in Warsaw. After having reason to believe the traffic stop involved illegal drug possession, the officer requested assistance. The second officer, Paul Heaton, arrived and obtained consent to search the vehicle and officers discovered methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle, Connolly, along with the other occupant, Charters, both were advised of their rights and agreed to speak with the officers.
Connolly said that she traded her box of pseudoephedrine to someone in exchange for the methamphetamine. Connolly advised that Charters was the one related to the subjects who sold the methamphetamine.
Charters said he uses meth and just prior to the traffic stop they were at 202 Argonne Road, Warsaw, and obtained meth from Smith. It was advised that Smith lives on the second floor of the apartment building that faces Argonne Road.
At approximately 2:17 a.m., the officer went to the residence described by Charters to see if he could observe any odors associated with the manufacturing of meth. While outside the apartment building, the officer observed a male looking out the window.
The officer then proceeded to a common area in the backside of the apartment building where the officer was met by the same male subject observed in the window. Heaton identified himself as a law enforcement officer by exhibiting his badge.
The officer then asked if Smith would provide consent to search the apartment and Smith said no. The officer, being concerned of destruction of evidence relating to illegal drug possession, then asked if Smith would allow him entry into the apartment to make sure that there was no one else in his apartment and Smith agreed.
Smith advised that he is the renter of the apartment. The apartment is the same apartment that the officer observed Smith looking out of the window.
While observing for occupants in Smith’s apartment, Heaton smelled a chemical odor in the residence that, from his training and experience as a narcotics officer, associates the smell with the manufacturing of meth.
Heaton also observed a syringe on the bedroom dresser along with a gallon plastic bag which had white residue and the corner removed.
After locating no one in the residence and securing the scene, Smith was placed under arrest. Prior to transporting Smith to the Warsaw Police Department, a plastic bag of plant material was located on his person, which Heaton identified as marijuana and weighed only a few grams.
Heaton advised Smith of his Constitutional rights and warnings. Smith then admitted that drug use had taken place in the apartment and that there could be a meth lab in the apartment, according to the affidavit. Smith did confirm there were meth precursors in the apartment.
Heaton obtained a search warrant for Smith’s residence and served the warrant to Smith. Inside the residence, officers found a plastic bottle that contained a cloudy liquid with gold beads, black flakes and white sludge and was bubbling. The plastic bottle tested positive for ammonia, which indicates that two or more chemicals have been added to manufacture meth. Officers identified the bottle as a one-pot meth lab.
Inside the residence officers also found drain cleaner, sodium hydroxide, camp fuel, cold packs and lithium batteries.
Officers identified the chemicals as chemical regents to manufacture a controlled substance.
In Smith’s wallet, according to the affidavit, officers found a plastic bag that contained a yellow powder that tested positive for meth and weighed 1 gram. Officers also found coffee filters, salt, spoons with burnt residue and cotton and four used syringes inside the residence.
