WEST ALEXANDRIA — Preble County Sheriff Deputies arrested a Lewisburg man last week after a pursuit led to the discovery of a methamphetamine lab.
According to Sheriff Mike Simpson, on Tuesday, July 14, at 1:35 p.m., a deputy attempted to stop a motorcycle on Jordan Road, north of U.S. 35, after the deputy recognized the driver as being wanted by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office on three drug related felony warrants.
The driver failed to stop for the deputy, continuing south on Jordan Road, according to Simpson. The driver crossed U.S. 35 and traveled south on Enterprise Road until the motorcycle became disabled in the 1500 block.
The driver then fled on foot in to a private yard where he was taken into custody by the deputy.
A search prior to the arrest revealed that the suspect was in possession of nearly five grams of methamphetamine, Simpson said. It has a street value of approximately $500, he noted.
This information, together with other investigative information, led deputies to a residence in the 4300 block of Jordan Road, where the suspect, Arnon C. Collins Jr., lives, and the issuance of a search warrant for Collins’ 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, which was at his residence.
According to Simpson, investigators located equipment and chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine, including evidence of anhydrous ammonia, all of which were stored in the vehicle.
Technicians from the Preble County Sheriff’s Office and the Eaton Police Division neutralized the chemicals found at the scene, Simpson said.
Lewisburg Fire responded to the scene for assistance.
Collins, Jr., 45, was arrested and housed in the Preble County Jail on charges including illegal manufacture of drugs, a 2nd degree felony; assembly or possession of chemicals to manufacture drugs, a 3rd degree felony; possession of drugs (methamphetamine,) a 3rd degree felony; drug paraphernalia, a 4th degree misdemeanor and failure to comply with signal or order of police officer, a 1st degree misdemeanor.
The case has been forwarded to the Preble County prosecutor’s Office for review and filing of formal charges in Eaton Municipal Court, according to Simpson. At press time, Collins remained in the Preble County Jail.
