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Meth lab takedown

Drug Task Force busts ‘one of the larger operations’ seen in Warren County

Warren County Drug Task Force agents broke up an alleged methamphetamine lab and made three arrests Monday night at this 12884 Route 27 house in Grand Valley.

Officers of the Warren County Drug Task Force broke up a large methamphetamine lab in Grand Valley on Monday.

Three arrests were made.

Cody A. Kysor, 27, and Nakota L. Bemis, 21, both of 12884 Route 27 Grand Valley, were each charged with seven felonies including: operating a methamphetamine lab; conspiracy — operating a methamphetamine lab; risking catastrophe; possessing a precursor substance with intent to manufacture; conspiracy — possessing a precursor substance with intent to manufacture; manufacture with intent to deliver; conspiracy — manufacture with intent to deliver; and misdemeanors including: two counts of possession of a controlled substance; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Donald G. Littlefield, 47, 560 E. Main St., Youngsville, was charged with seven felonies including: operating a methamphetamine lab; conspiracy — operating a methamphetamine lab; risking catastrophe; possessing a precursor substance with intent to manufacture; conspiracy — possessing a precursor substance with intent to manufacture; manufacture with intent to deliver; conspiracy — manufacture with intent to deliver; two misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance; and summary driving while operating privilege suspended.

All three suspects were taken to Warren County jail after failing to post $100,000 bail.

“This whole case was precipitated from a tip from a concerned citizen, which led to an investigation into methamphetamine trafficking,” Warren County Drug Task Force Coordinator Bill Mickle said. “Eventually, the three defendants arrested were connected to the methamphetamine lab found at that location.”

He said the evidence points to the laboratory being in operation for months.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, task force agents surveilled the 12884 Route 27 property several times. Monday night, agents saw a maroon pick-up truck leave the property with a license plate registered to another vehicle. The vehicle was stopped. Police said Littlefield was driving and Kysor and Bemis were passengers in the vehicle.

Police said they found marijuana and methamphetamine on Littlefield’s person after the stop.

“Bemis had stated that Kysor was manufacturing methamphetamine in the basement of the residence,” police said in the affidavit.

Officers executed a search warrant at the property. Officers located an “active methamphetamine lab in the basement. During the search, investigators had found amounts of methamphetamine, marijuana, paraphernalia, and precursors used for the production of methamphetamine inside of the home,

“This was one of the larger operations that we’ve seen in Warren County,” Mickle said.

The task force and the Pennsylvania State Police Clandestine Laboratory Response Team investigated the scene.

There are three agents on the task force who have recently trained to identify and evaluate methamphetamine laboratories, Mickle said.

It is their job to determine if the task force needs to call in more resources to deal with production facilities.

“They determined in this situation the clandestine lab team was definitely needed,” Mickle said. “We want to thank the State Police Clandestine Laboratory Response Team for their assistance as this was a larger lab than our local resources could handle.”

“Methamphetamine is quickly becoming prevalent in Warren County,” he said. “The drug task force is working diligently to suppress these activities.”

“It’s critical that the public assist us with information,” Mickle said. “We have many ways of detecting drug trafficking in Warren County, but without the help of the public our avenues of investigation are limited.”

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