Troopers Say Woman Was Making Meth In Car When Stopped By Authorities

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Magnolia – Delaware State Police have arrested a Hartly woman for operating a one pot meth lab, after the vehicle she was a passenger in was stopped for a traffic violation, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Michael Austin.

Austin said the incident occurred at approximately 2:21 a.m., Sunday, April 22, 2018, when a Trooper stopped a silver, Volkswagen Jetta for a traffic violation on Fox Hollow Drive in Magnolia.

Contact was made with the driver who was identified as Ashley N. Lane, 25, of Rehoboth, and the passenger who was identified as Sarah C. Bell, 30, of Hartly, both of whom were confirmed to be wanted on capiases out of the Kent County Court of Common Pleas.

Both subjects were taken into custody and a subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of materials commonly used to manufacture methamphetamine, said Austin.

Through further investigation it was determined that all the materials belonged to Bell and that she was in fact actively manufacturing methamphetamine at the time the vehicle was stopped, according to Austin.. Due to the hazardous and combustible nature of the materials used in this process, the Department of Natural Resources, along with the Delaware State Police Kent County Drug Unit responded to assist with the investigation. The one pot meth lab was subsequently rendered safe without incident.

Bell was charged with Unlawfully Operating a Clandestine Lab and then committed to the Dolores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution in lieu of $10,000.00 secured bail.

Lane was charged with Failure To Signal, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and released on $300.00 unsecured bail.

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