Suspected meth lab uncovered (Wisconsin)

It's the seventh in a year in Sheboygan County

By Troy Laack
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers

SHEBOYGAN — Carol Edminster, who owns the Patty Cake Daycare Learning Center, was stunned to see authorities Monday in hazardous materials outfits uncovering a suspected methamphetamine lab next door.

It is the seventh alleged meth lab uncovered in Sheboygan County since the first was found last May 5 in Plymouth. Police investigated the sixth alleged meth lab only a week ago at 1434 Ontario Ave. in Sheboygan.

"I'm really surprised that something like that could be set up in a storage shed," Edminster said. "They obviously don't care about the children."

Fifteen children at the learning center and 12 Alzheimer's and dementia patients at the Countryside Manor in the 4200 block of Kadlec Drive were kept inside and the windows remained closed at both facilities while authorities investigated the B&J Mini-Storage warehouse at 4420 County J.

About 10:45 a.m., investigators began seizing items allegedly used in the production of meth-amphetamine from a small storage unit at the warehouse, just west of Interstate 43 in the Town of Sheboygan, said Capt. Dave Adams of the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Department.

A 40-year-old Sheboygan man was arrested and the sheriff's department will ask the district attorney's office to charge him with possessing meth waste and possessing equipment to make meth, Adams said.

Deputies went to the warehouse about 4:30 p.m. Sunday after receiving a tip, and found the Sheboygan man and a 41-year-old Minnesota man sitting in a truck just outside the warehouse, a press release said. The Sheboygan man was arrested on a warrant for failing to pay child support, Adams said, and the Minnesota man was released.

While there, deputies noticed items sometimes used to produce meth and a search warrant for the warehouse was issued Monday.

Gloriette Rammer watched the scene from the window of her husband's room at Countryside Manor.

"You always hear about these things in bigger cities but here it is," said Rammer, 75.

Troy Laack writes for the Sheboygan Press.

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