A Bethel Township man is facing charges of child endangering and manufacturing methamphetamines after an illegal burn led detectives to his “meth lab.”
At 5:40 p.m. on Tuesday, November 14, the Clark County Sheriff’s Department was called to the 2000 block of South Dayton-Lakeview Rd. in reference to a possible methamphetamine production complaint after the manager noticed a “strange chemical smell” coming from one of the apartment buildings. While en route to that location, Detective Nawman observed a large illegal burn in the backyard of 11444 Gerlaugh Rd. Nawman contacted Bethel Township Fire & EMS to investigate and continued on to the S. Dayton-Lakeview Rd. address. According to the Sheriff’s report, Nawman found nothing indicating narcotics manufacturing at this address.
Detective Nawman and Sergeant Evans-Fisher then responded to Gerlaugh Rd to check on the illegal burn. Nawman observed what appeared to be “components to a methamphetamine lab” in the remnants of the fire pit.
At this time Detectives Sanders and Fader were dispatch to conduct an investigation.
The detectives spoke with Christopher Milem who advised that he was unaware of the contents of the fire, but that Larry Jenkins started the fire. Milem and Jenkins both agreed to allow detectives to search the residence with Milem’s girlfriend, Jennifer Milligan, providing the signature authorizing the search.
According to the report, Detectives searched the Jenkins' bedroom and located a pipe for smoking meth, two digital scales and several plastic baggies. In the closet, detectives located a propane canister and long, clear rubber tubing.
In the basement, Detectives located a silver box containing several glass pipes and more propane canisters. Detectives also noticed several baby items stored in the basement. Milligan has a newborn in the residence and identified Milem as the father.
The search then moved to a white trailer outback of the residence. Inside the trailer, detectives discovered a pack of white pills labeled “MethylPREDNIsolone”, instant cold packs, various chemicals in aerosol cans, and gloves. “Those items, used in accompaniment, are indicative of the production of methamphetamine” said Detective Sanders in his report. At this time, detectives requested assistance from Detective Collins with the Springfield Police Department as he is trained in the detection of meth labs.
Detective Collins indicated that he believed this was in fact a “meth lab.”
Searching the remnants of the fire, detectives found rubber tubing, two ceramic dishes, several twenty ounce bottles and two blue canisters similar to what was located inside. Next to the fire, detectives discovered two aerosol cans with the plastic valves removed from their tops.
With this information, Larry Jenkins was charged with endangering children and the illegal assembly or posession of chemicas for manufacture of drugs.
“This incident is another example of the ongoing efforts by Sheriff Burchett and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office to keep her campaign promise to protect the entire community from the scourge and impact of illegal drugs” said Lt. Shultz in a media release.
On Wednesday morning, Larry Jenkins entered a plea of innocent in Clark County Municipal Court and is being held in the Clark County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
