Two arrested in meth investigation

METRICH-MARMET detectives arrested two Marion County residents Tuesday afternoon on charges related to methamphetamine production and further charges are expected.

Shortly after 5 p.m., METRICH-MARMET officers served a search warrant at 7632 Irvin Shoots Road West in Grand Township with assistance from other local officers and deputies, the state Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation and Marion County Children Services.

According to a METRICH-MARMET news release, meth was allegedly being cooked when detectives arrived on scene. Foy O. Potts, 41, 7632 Irvin Shoots Road, and Elizabeth A. Nelson, 34, 287 Breen St., were arrested on a second-degree felony charge of illegal manufacture of methamphetamine.

In the release, Sheriff's Office Maj. Aaron Corwin said he expects both Potts and Nelson will be charged with two additional counts of endangering children, a third-degree felony, as a result of the investigation.

This is the third set of arrests connected to alleged meth production announced by METRICH-MARMET this year, though the other two raids occurred in the city of Marion. Due to the highly hazardous nature of meth production, officials are especially wary of it gaining a foothold in Marion.

Marion Fire Department Capt. Wade Ralph previously said the "extremely unstable" process of meth production can lead to explosions, fire or harmful fumes if something goes wrong, and Police Chief Bill Collins said meth users pose an increased danger.

"When you run into a methamphetamine addict, it's hard telling what you're going to run into as a safety factor for the officer and how hard it's going to be to control that person," Collins said after the first meth bust in January.

Originally published in the Marion Star on June 8, 2016.

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