Published: May 29, 2008 08:15 am      

3 charged with methamphetamine manufacturing

BEREA — Some early morning purchases May 19 at the Berea Wal-Mart led to the arrest of three people on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine.

The store alerted the Berea Police Department after a man and two women purchased a quantity of Coleman lantern fuel, rock salt and a coil of plastic tubing.

All three items can be used to produce methamphetamine, said Berea Police Capt. Ken Clark.

Under Kentucky law, possession of only two items useful in the process are probable cause for a manufacturing charge, Clark said.

Wal-Mart employees gave police a description and license number of the auto in which the three left the store.

Police officers stopped the vehicle near mile marker 74 on Interstate 75.

After discovering the tubing, salt and fuel, Clark said officers then arrested Heather R. Doan, 29, and Erica R. Stewart, 26, both of Brodhead, and Bryan D. Phillips, 32, of Mt. Vernon.

All three were charged with manufacturing methamphetamine and lodged in the Madison County Detention Center, where they remained Tuesday, each under $10,000 cash bond.

On May 19, $700 allegedly was taken from a Berea Wal-Mart cash register.

“Two black females, unknown to any employees, came into the store and opened a cash register with a key,” Clark said. “They took the cash and left.”

Also on May 19, an 18-year-old Madison Southern High School student, Dustin Isaacs, was arrested at the school and charged with alcohol intoxication and possession of alcohol by a minor, according to the release.

“He had brought alcohol to school in a pop can,” Clark said. “He was drinking from it and passing it around to other students.”

From May 12 to 25, a series of burglaries and vandalism occurred in Berea, according to a report released by Clark.

• The core of a residential air conditioner, valued at $1,900, was reported taken May 20 from 103 Valley St.

• Check-4-Check, 105 Boone St., was entered May 23 and $1,600 in cash and checks were taken.

• A failed May 19 attempt to enter the Get It Quick Market, 388 Scaffold Cane Road, caused $2,200 in damaged to the building. A failed attempt to enter Mom and G’s Car Wash, 319 Prince Royal Drive, causing $100 damage, was reported May 12.

• An above-ground swimming pool at 203 Kenway St. was punctured “or shot through” on May 14, causing $3,000 in damage. No bullet was found.

• Plumbing supplies valued at $800, taken from a 435 Pepper Drive construction site, were reported May 15. Lighting fixtures valued at $319 were reported taken May 20 from a 145 Oak Meadow Drive construction site.

• A television and a window air conditioner, valued at $650, were reported taken May 22 from 220 South Broadway as the residents were moving.

• A guest of Holiday Inn Express, Peggy Flats Road, reported May 22 that $650 was taken from his wallet by a visitor to his room.

• On May 23, an employee of Lighthouse Home Products, 353 Walnut Meadow Road, reported that $195 was taken from a wallet, and a jacket and contents valued at $50 was reported taken from a St. Joseph Hospital-Berea waiting room.

• From May 21-26, six people Berea police charged six people with driving under the influence.

Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 623-1669, Ext. 267.