Tips aid state police in meth busts

A 4-year-old girl and her not-even-1-year-old brother were taken by Child Protective Services after their mother was involved in a meth bust at the 1400 block of North Arlington Park Drive.

The Indiana State Police Meth Suppression Unit received a tip on the evening of March 26 from an anonymous source through the Meth Suppression Hotline.

The anonymous caller told police Michael Langley had warrants out for his arrest and had been staying with Deborah Jett, the children’s mother.

“(Deborah) Jett was inside apartment 602 at the time of Langley’s arrest. The children were inside 602 with (Deborah) Jett,” Sgt. Curt Durnil of the Indiana State Police said.  

Trooper Joshua Allen had arrested Michael Langley once within the last year for manufacturing methamphetamine and Indiana records showed Langley had active
warrants for his arrest in Monroe County.  

ISP troopers went to the apartment on March 26 to arrest Langley. When the troopers arrived, Langley saw them and immediately tried to evade the police.

After apprehending Langley, Deborah Jett and Ashley Lovell exited the apartment together. Lovell had warrants for her arrest in Marion
County.

When Deborah Jett exited the apartment, she brought the children with her.

“Troopers were not made aware of any family relationship between the children and Michael Langley,” Sgt. Durnil said.  

At this time, the troopers making the arrests contacted Child Protective Services to take the children for health evaluations and safekeeping.

After arresting Langley, the police took Deborah Jett to the Indiana State Police post for questioning.

Jett admitted to using meth from Langley, buying pseudoephedrine for Langley in exchange for meth, allowing Langley to manufacture meth eight times in her apartment, allowing Langley to manufacture meth while her children were in the apartment and talking to Langley about meth.

According to the police report filed, Trooper Joshua Allen requested a warrant to be issued for the arrest of Deborah Jett.

Despite the request for a warrant for Jett, no arrest has been made.

“Children being found in a house or dwelling where meth is being manufactured or consumed is not uncommon,” Sgt. Durnil said.

While there is no indication or report that the children had been injured or had medical issues due to their proximity to the manufacturing of meth, last January a mother in
Indianapolis was charged with her son’s death after a fire was started due to the manufacturing of meth.

Along with the child’s death in Indianapolis, there have been two instances in Bloomington where meth arrests have been made within a few hundred yards of elementary schools.

On Feb. 2, Indiana State Police officers arrested Amy Young and Joshua Grubb on meth manufacturing charges behind Arlington Heights Elementary School. Young has since been arrested a second time for meth related charges in 2013.

On Feb. 25, Meth Suppression Troopers arrested Justin Beck and Joshua Deckard on meth manufacturing charges at a residence across the street from Clear Creek Elementary School.

“Obviously, those cases that involve children or those that may be located close to where children are usually present are a huge concern for the Meth Suppression Unit Troopers,” Sgt. Durnil said.

In order to combat Bloomington’s meth problem, the Meth Suppression Unit relies on the Meth Suppression Hotline.

“We have found that tips come in for a plethora of reasons — everything from wanting to protect their neighborhoods to revenge, among others,” Sgt. Durnil said.

Since the middle of 2010 the Meth Suppression unit has received 244 tips and 149 have been from the hotline, but it is not the only source of information for the Meth Suppression Unit.

“Twelve tips have been received through the MSU office and provided to the officers in the field,” Niki Crawford, Meth Suppression Commander said. “The full time meth investigations assigned to our office in the field have received an additional 153 meth tips from other sources.”

The Meth Suppression Unit also uses their relationship with the public for tips on possible meth use and manufacturing.

“Many of the tips our personnel receives come directly to them from local residents and retailers who have good working relationships with the Meth Suppression personnel,” Crawford said.

Through all of its investigations and tips the Meth Suppression Unit made 243 arrests by the end of February and identified 53 additional suspects.

While not every tip leads to an arrest, Crawford still urges the public to use the hotline.