Residents of the 500 block of North Johnson Street awoke to the sound and sight of numerous law enforcement agencies busting a meth making operation.
The Macomb Police Department said a search warrant was executed at 518 North Johnson at 6:00 a.m. Wednesday. The department was assisted by the Illinois State Police Tactical Response Team, the Illinois State Police Meth Response Team, the McDonough County Sheriff’s Department, the Western Illinois University Office of Public Safety, the West Central Illinois Task Force, and the Illinois National Guard Civil Support Team.
Four people were arrested and charged:
Charles Z. Bittner, 36, 3343 243rd Ave., Keokuk – Manufacture of Methamphetamine, 15 - 100 grams. Additional charges filed later in the day: Possession of Meth Precursors, 30 - 150 grams; Child Endangerment/Meth Related; Aggravated Unlawful Participation in Meth Manufacturing; Unlawful Use of Property.
Wendy Huston, 33, 518 N. Johnson St., Macomb -- Manufacture of Methamphetamine, 15 - 100 grams. Additional charges filed later in the day: Possession of Meth Precursors, 30 - 150 grams; Unlawful Disposal of Meth Waste; Child Endangerment/Meth Related; Aggravated Unlawful Participation in Meth Manufacturing; Unlawful Use of Property.
Laurie Castle, 37, 518 N. Johnson St., Macomb – Unlawful Procurement of Methamphetamine Precursors, 15 – 30 grams. Additional charge filed later in the day: Child Endangerment/Meth Related.
Melinda Burnett, 44, 717 N. Albert St., Macomb -- Unlawful Procurement of Methamphetamine Precursors, 15 – 30 grams.
“I don’t believe they were major dealers,” said Macomb Police Deputy Chief Eric Lenardt. “It appears as though a lot of what they were doing was the ‘one pot method’ where they could use a small 20-ounce bottle, put everything in, and cook it up that way."
Four children were taken into protective custody and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was contacted. In addition, two dogs in the house were turned over to McDonough County Animal Control.
Lenardt said the Macomb Fire Department was also on hand to vent fumes from the active meth labs in the home. The home was still being cleaned out several hours after the search warrant was executed.
