Howe Man Arrested For Manufacturing Meth

HOWE COUNTY, IN - -The Indiana State Police Criminal Investigation Division from the Fort Wayne Post arrested a Howe man yesterday afternoon on meth related charges after receiving information from the St. Joseph County (MI) Area Narcotics (SCAN) Team. 

According to Detective Jeff Boyd, the SCAN Team notified the IMAGE Drug Task Force that 48 year old Joseph Allen Trushel was involved in the manufacturing of meth and was at a residence in the 6900 north block of County Road 310 E in rural Howe.  At approximately 3:30 pm, Boyd and LaGrange County Sheriff Deputies Hibbs and Houser went to that residence to conduct a knock and talk.  Trushel allegedly ran out the back door of the residence, but was chased down and detained in the 400 east block of County Road 700 N.  

Officers checked the path that Trushel ran down and found meth making supplies as well as two one-pot meth labs.  Trushel was taken into custody and incarcerated in the LaGrange County Jail pursuant to a search of his person where meth and other paraphernalia were located.  The Indiana State Police Clandestine Laboratory Team was called in to render the scene safe as well as to identify, preserve and collect items of an evidentiary nature. 

Assisting with the investigation were the St. Joseph County (MI) Area Narcotics (SCAN) Team, the LaGrange County Sheriff, the LaGrange Police Departments, the IMAGE Drug Task Force and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. 

ARRESTED AND CHARGED:

• Joseph Allen Trushel, 48, Howe, Indiana
• •Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Class B Felony
• •Possession of Methamphetamine, Class D Felony
• •Possession of Precursors, Class D Felony