Meth arrests come from broken down car near jail

Date Posted: July 10, 2009

WOLF LAKE — It can takes weeks if not months to get the break police officers need to make a case in a drug investigation.

Or sometimes they can show up at their front door.

Police allege a car which broke down outside the parking lot of the Noble County Jail, 210 S. 7th St., Albion, on Wednesday eventually led them to a home where methamphetamine was being manufactured. A Wolf Lake husband and wife were arrested.

Police formally charged Catherine Ann Hicks, 29, of the 3000 block of West Wolf Lake Road, with possession of methamphetamine, a Class D felony, after meeting with the Noble County Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday.

Randall J. Hicks, 24, of the same address, was charged with possession of precursors with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, a Class C felony; and maintaining a common nuisance, a Class A misdemeanor.

Both subjects were being held on $4,500 bond.

Over the last several days, Noble County Chief Deputy Doug Harp had been receiving tips about a meth lab at the West Wolf Lake road residence where the Hickses reside.

At approximately 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Harp and Deputy David Worman went to the residence to speak with the occupants. No one was home, however.

Approximately a half hour later, police received a report of a car broken down just outside the jail parking lot.

Noble County Sgt. Buck Leamon and Deputy Sean Lundy offered their assistance. While they spoke with the occupants, they discovered the female passenger, Catherine Hicks, was allegedly in possession of methamphetamine.

Further investigation led police to the residence where a search was conducted. According to Harp, police allegedly discovered evidence methamphetamine had been manufactured at the residence. The Indiana Multi Agency Group Enforcement (I.M.A.G.E.) drug task force was notified and assisted in the search of the residence.

The Indiana State Police Clandestine Lab Team was called in to process the scene.

According to Harp, Catherine and Randall Hicks had been doing a custody exchange of children at the jail parking lot.

“The car broke down as they were leaving the lot,” Harp said. “It worked out pretty nice.”

Story by: Matt Getts – KPC Media