Joint Investigation Leads to Union County Meth Lab

Union County – Shortly after midnight, early this morning, troopers from the Meth Suppression Squad along with deputies from the Union County Sheriff’s Department served a search warrant on a residence located at 205 E. Glade Montgomery Rd. just north of Liberty. The warrant, which was the result of an ongoing meth investigation between the two agencies, led to the discovery of a meth lab and the arrest of a Union County man.

Arrested was Derek Kassens, age 28, charged with Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Class “B” Felony; Neglect of a Dependent, Class “C” Felony; Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Precursors, Maintaining a Common Nuisance and Possession of Paraphernalia, all four Class “D” Felonies.

The Neglect of a Dependent charge stems from a small child being in the home at the time the warrant was served. The child was released to relatives. The investigation is ongoing with further charges possible. Meth labs are often found as the result of a tip received from a concerned citizen.

Anyone with information about illegal drug use may call the Pendleton Post at 1-800-527-4752, or the Indiana State Police Drug Tip Line at 1-800-453-4756. Tips can be made and kept anonymous.

The Indiana Meth Investigation System or IMIS, can also take tips on meth labs. Just go to www.meth.in.gov and click on the “Report Suspected Meth Activity” Link. Also available on the meth site is information regarding meth statistics, meth lab cleanup, educational videos and materials about meth manufacturing and addiction.

All Suspects Are Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty in a Court of Law

Address/Location
Indiana State Police-Pendleton District 51-Pendleton, IN
9022 State Route 67
Pendleton, IN 46064

Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 765-778-2121

John Bowling
Public Information
jbowling@isp.in.gov
765-778-2121

January Arrests announced by the Union County Sheriffs Department

 

1-1-14 Cody Webb of Hamilton was arrested for dealing methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine

1-2-14  Levi Woosley of West College Corner was arrested for auto theft, operating a motor vehicle while never licensed, and Resisting Law Enforcement

1-3-14   Alica Shera of Connersville was arrested for Operating while intoxicated.

1-8-14  Brian Bryant of Liberty was arrested on a Warrant for Child Support

1-8-14   Michael Curry of Liberty was arrested on a Warrant for Failure to appear

1-8-14   Levi Woosley of West College Corner was arrested on a Warrant for probation violation.

1-10-14   Jeremy Butler of Richmond was arrested on a warrant for probation violation

1-10-14   Stephen Gaskey of Richmond was arrested on a warrant for probation violation

1-11-14   Amanda Harvey of West College Corner was arrested on a warrant for probation violation

1-11-14   Amanda Terry of Kettering, OH was arrested for operating while intoxicated.

Arrest made in Cottage Grove Shooting

Union County – On 12/11 around 4:30 p.m. the Union County Sheriff’s Department responded to a home on U.S. 27, just south of Liberty, for a report of a man being stabbed or shot. When they arrived they found Wesley Gregory, age 27 of Cedar Grove, with a cut to the right side of his body and a .22 caliber “bird shot” wound to his thigh.

Wesley was transported to Reid Memorial Hospital in Richmond with non-life threatening injuries. The Union County Sheriff’s Department called for Pendleton District Detectives to investigate. State Police Detective Brent Dougherty, who was sent to the scene, had been actively looking for an at large suspect named Toby Deaton in connection with the incident.

Around 10 p.m. last evening suspect Toby Deaton, age 28 of Liberty, was arrested by State Police Detective Dougherty at the Union County Jail. Deaton, who had been at large since the incident last Wednesday evening, turned himself in at the jail where he was arrested and charged with two “C” Felony counts of Aggravated Battery for his alleged part in the altercation.

Cottage Grove altercation leaves one in hospital and one on the run

Union County – Last night around 4:30 p.m. the Union County Sheriff’s Department responded to a home on U.S. 27 just south of Liberty, for a report of a man being stabbed or shot. When they arrived they found Wesley Gregory, age 27 of Cedar Grove, with a cut to the right side of his body and a .22 caliber “bird shot” wound to his thigh.

Wesley was transported to Reid Memorial Hospital in Richmond with non-life threatening injuries, and the Union County Sheriff’s Department called for Pendleton District Detectives to investigate. Detective Brent Dougherty arrived and his preliminary investigation found that Gregory had been at the home of a female acquaintance when an argument began between him and a 28 year old Liberty man named Toby Deaton.

The argument ended up out in the driveway of the home where a fight between the two led to Deaton allegedly cutting Gregory with a knife, and then shooting him in the thigh with a .22 loaded with “bird shot.” (Bird shot is a .22 loaded with a small amount of tiny lead shot.) Deaton fled the scene and is at large.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information about the whereabouts of Toby Deaton is encouraged to call the Pendleton State Police Post at 1-800-527-4752. Tips can be made and kept anonymous.
All Suspects Are Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty in a Court of Law

Address/Location
Indiana State Police-Pendleton District 51-Pendleton, IN
9022 State Route 67
Pendleton, IN 46064

Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 765-778-2121

John Bowling
Public Information
jbowling@isp.in.gov
765-778-2121