Meth lab discovery leads to arrests

BY STACI WILSON

Police pulled guns and drugs out of Springville Twp. home that investigators say was a non-operational but functional methamphetamine lab.

Police went to the Button Road residence Feb, 13 in an effort to serve arrest warrants to three people wanted on felony assault and burglary charges but found evidence that meth was being made at the home.

Curt Newhart, 30, Hop Bottom; Adam Baisch, 28, Hop Bottom; and Karen Wilson are now charged with operating the clandestine lab.

Police saw Newhart exiting a parked vehicle at the home and he was taken into custody without incident. Baisch and Wilson were located inside the residence and taken into custody by police.

Troopers found a blue pouch in the pocket of Baisch’s pants. A substance in the pouch field tested positive for methamphetamine.

Baisch was also carrying a Glock Model 42, .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun in the back pocket of his pants. Two assault type rifles were also found laying on the table in the area where Baisch was taken into custody.

Another assault rifle was located in a bedroom.

Police also discovered a 10-year-old male juvenile in the home, and began to search for additional people.

In the search, police found two glass jars containing milky white liquid and a crystal, rock salt type material; and three water bottles also containing a milky, white liquid and the crystalline material; as well as other items typically used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

With the discovery of those items, Cpl. Michael Walsh requested a search warrant for the residence, which was granted by District Judge Jodi Cordner.
The PSP Clandestine Laboratory Response Team, and members of PSP Vice/Intelligence executed the search.

Items seized from the home included a quart jar containing liquid and solid residue; a two-liter bottle with residue; a coffee grinder with residue; a digital scale with residue; and several the chemical and pharmaceutical ingredients used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Thirty-five firearms – including rifles, shotguns, pistols and revolvers – were also taken out of the residence.

Police said many of the items seized were consistent with the clandestine manufacture of methamphetamine. The Bureau of Forensic Services is expected to provide a detailed report of the items.

The PSP Clandestine Laboratory Response Team classified the home as a non-operational, functional methamphetamine lab.

Newhart, Baisch and Wilson were each charged with felony counts of possession of red phosphorus with intent to manufacture a controlled substance; manufacture, deliver or possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture or deliver; operating a methamphetamine lab; manufacture of methamphetamine – child present.

The three also face misdemeanor counts of knowingly possessing ephedrine; possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered; and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.

Wilson is also charged with endangering the welfare of a child. She has not yet been arraigned and no court date has been set.

Bail for Newhart was set at $250,000. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for May 18.

Baisch waived his May 4 preliminary hearing. He is also being held on $250,000 bail.