Welfare Check of Tipton Infant Leads to Arrests of Three Adults for Meth

TIPTON, IN -  Last night, Indiana State Police Detective Tony Frawley received information that methamphetamine was being manufactured at a home located at 416 W. Washington Street, Tipton, IN. There was also supposedly an infant at the house. Due to the poisonous and combustible properties of chemicals used to make methamphetamine, officers from the Indiana State Police and Tipton Police Department went to the residence for a welfare check of the infant. They were given permission to search the home by Steve Stewart, 55, who was renting the dwelling.  

Officers allegedly found in an unlocked bay of a three car detached garage precursors commonly used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine. Officers then obtained a Tipton Circuit Court search warrant for the property and continued their investigation. They purportedly found more precursors commonly used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. There was also allegedly a misdemeanor amount of marijuana found in the home.  

Austin Stewart, 20, Brittany Wellman, 19, and their 11-week-old infant were at residence during the search. They were living at the home.  

Steve Stewart, Austin Stewart, and Wellman were incarcerated in the Tipton County Jail on a class A felony charge for conspiracy to deal methamphetamine. Austin Stewart also faces a misdemeanor charge for obstruction of justice. It is alleged that he swallowed marijuana before officers could secure it as evidence.  

The infant was placed in the care of a representative from Tipton County Child Protection Services Agency.  

The precursors found were cleaned up by members of the Indiana State Police Clandestine Lab Enforcement Team.   

Detective Frawley was assisted in this investigation by officers from the ISP Drug Enforcement Section and the Tipton County Prosecutor’s Office.