Three charged in unrelated meth busts

Three locals are behind bars related to dual meth labs uncovered within city limits.

METRICH confirmed two unrelated meth labs were found at 311 E. Second St., and the second at 739 Bowman St. on Tuesday.

Joanne Burns, 46, and Tracy Isaac, 37, were charged with illegal manufacture of drugs, a first-degree felony, and illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for manufacture of drugs. The charges were enhanced as there were children present in the residence, according to METRICH Sgt. Joe Petrycki.

Richland County Children’s Services was contacted and the children were placed with other family members.

Six 20-ounce chemical-filled plastic soda bottles were found in the home, METRICH detective Perry Wheeler said. METRICH also found lithium, sodium hydroxide, iodised salt and rubber tubing in the home.

Preliminary testing at the scene was positive for ammonia, Wheeler said.

“It appears they’ve been manufacturing for a while,” Wheeler said. “They had almost all of the components to manufacture.”

Another man was arrested at 311 E. Second St. early Tuesday.

James Redden, 46, was charged with manufacturing of methamphetamine and possessing chemicals to manufacture after attempting to hide a vial of the drug in a bucket of water, Wheeler said.

Originally published in the News Journal on August 14, 2014.