Elkhart County - A traffic stop early Thursday morning landed three individuals in jail after an Indiana State Trooper discovered a mobile meth lab in their vehicle.
Trooper Gretchen Deal was working in Elkhart County when she observed a silver SUV role through a stop sign on CR 38 at CR 11 around 12:45 a.m. As Deal approached the vehicle two female occupants quickly exited the SUV leaving a male subject inside. Trooper Deal immediately noticed a strong chemical odor typically associated with the production of meth coming from the Kia.
As Deal spoke with the driver, Heather Meador, 33, of Goshen, she discovered that Meador had a suspended driver’s license and the license plate on the Kia was reported as stolen out of Goshen. Deal also noticed multiple items of drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. Meador and both passengers, Ashley Seabolt, 30, of Goshen, and Derek Dewing, 31, of Elkhart, initially claimed no knowledge of the meth that was later discovered in the SUV.
Deal is a member of the Indiana State Police Clandestine Lab Team. Lab team members are responsible for cleaning up more than 1,400 labs a year around the state. Another member of the clandestine lab team responded to the scene and assisted in safely removing the active one pot meth lab that was found under the driver’s seat.
Dewing and Seabolt were arrested for manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine. Meador was arrested for driving whiles suspended, manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and possession of stolen property. All three subjects were taken to the Elkhart County Jail.
*All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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