The break-up of the city’s first methamphetamine lab Wednesday afternoon has prompted authorities to advise retailers of materials needed to manufacture the drug.

Thursday, October 07, 1999

The break-up of the city’s first methamphetamine lab Wednesday afternoon has prompted authorities to advise retailers of materials needed to manufacture the drug.

According to Police Chief Paul M. Philipp, posters will be circulated among Austin businesses today advising merchants of what common ingredients are needed to create the drug.

Anyone purchasing significant quantities of such items as Duracell batteries, Sudafed cold remedy, Heet gas line treatment, Drano and propane gas should be reported immediately to the Austin-Mower County Law Enforcement Center (437-9400).

For more information and a complete list of the items authorities know to be needed for methamphetamine laboratories, merchants may also contact the LEC.

Shotgun recovered

Austin police were called to 304 6th St. SW Wednesday to investigate multiple reports of suspicious activities

When officers arrived, they observed a juvenile female holding a handgun to her head, while another juvenile female was seen carrying items from the residence.

A further search of the area uncovered a .12 gauge sawed-off shotgun hidden beneath the front porch steps.

Both juveniles denied knowledge of the weapon.

The residence is where Austin officers arrested Christopher Bradford, 23, and charged him in connection with the theft of a money bag containing the day’s receipts from Ankeny’s No. 6 on Monday.

Bradford remains in the Mower County Jail.

House vandalized

The Austin Police Department received a report of over $7,000 damages to a residence owned by Tamara Lawhead.

When the landlord went to investigate the rental property, she discovered windows broken, a garage door broken, holes punched in walls and other damages.

Police are seeking a man identified as Dean Timblin and also known as Dean Theodore, who last rented the property at 1106 10th Ave. SW.

Drug arrests made

John W. Loscher, 23 of 1010 2nd Ave. SW., was arrested Monday night and charged with possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute.

Acting on information supplied by confidential informants, the Southeast Minnesota Narcotics Task Force and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension placed Loscher’s residence under surveillance Monday night. The information said he would receive a large shipment of marijuana at that time.

Near 7:24 p.m. Monday, officers observed a lone male, carrying a duffel bag exit a car and walk to the house. When he left the house a few minutes later, he was not carrying the bag, according to reports.

Officers stopped the subject, driving a white late-model Chrysler a few blocks away.

The driver was identified as a man whom Police Chief Paul M. Philipp said authorities believe to be "a supplier of drugs in the area."

Later Monday evening, another individual approached the house and foot and went inside only to leave a short while later carrying a box.

When he was stopped a short distance away, officers found a 12-pack of beer in the box as well as three one-pound bags containing marijuana.

Officers then executed a search warrant on the Loscher residence and arrested him.

Twenty pounds of marijuana were reportedly found in a duffel bag, other drug paraphernalia and more marijuana was found elsewhere in the house, which also contained two marijuana growing operations in separate rooms.

Derek Ostrander, 21 of Austin, and the man carrying the box with beer and marijuana was also taken into custody and arrested on drug charges.

Because the other individual had no drugs on him at the time and because there were not any outstanding warrants, he was not taken into custody, according to the police report.