Police bust meth lab across from Elkhart school

by Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)

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Police arrested 47-year-old Stacy Renee Dennis and 39-year-old Lisa Ritchie in connection with a meth lab found in a home across from Elkhart Central High School

Police arrested 47-year-old Stacy Renee Dennis (left) and 39-year-old Lisa Ritchie (right) in connection with a meth lab found in a home across from Elkhart Central High School on Wednesday, April 16, 2008. (Photos provided)

By Tiffany Griffin

ELKHART — Elkhart County was third in the state last year for the number of meth labs dismantled by Indiana State Police. This month alone, they dealt with four in the county. That includes one found Tuesday night across from Central High School.

"This is essentially a bomb waiting to explode,” said Elkhart County Prosecutor Curtis Hill as he stood outside a home in the 400-block of Goshen Avenue, across the street from Elkhart Central High School.

Tuesday night police went into the home armed with a search warrant. In the basement they found six separate meth labs. Three were in stages of cooking the drug, and three others were inactive.

“There was quite a haul in the basement,” he said. “It appears they're getting more and more bold to come in densely populated areas."

At the home next door they found a distribution center for the meth.

He says it is not uncommon to see many smaller meth operations like this in the city. He also says the price for meth brought in from Mexico has tripled.

“Which means it’s very, very scary,” Hill said. “That being the case we are seeing a rise in the so-called mom and pop operation when people are trying to cook their own because they’re having difficulty getting the meth from the traditional imported sources."

Even so, one neighbor was surprised the lab was found on his street.

"Yes, I was very surprised,” he told WSBT News. “I mean, I didn't know it was existing.”

Police say each meth lab was capable of producing up to $6,000 worth of meth.

They arrested 47-year-old Stacy Renee Dennis and 39-year-old Lisa Ritchie.

Police also found a 5-year-old and a 1-year-old who were being watched by Ritchie while their mother was at work. The mother was contacted and came to the scene to pick up her children.

Thursday, May 8 at 4:19 AM ichazodsqueen wrote ...

This story saddens me.I used to be very close to both of these women before I moved across country 11 years ago.One is the paternal aunt of my son. I never even knew of them to smoke a cigarette. they WERE beautiful ladies who worked hard and were wonderful mothers. Both of these ladies were rocks that anyone could count on. How sad it is to me that it was "rock" that took them out. I wish I could understand where the glamour of the drug is or the addiction itself.

Friday, Apr 18 at 9:19 AM Officer on Duty wrote ...

PSSSSTT. It's actually a television station web site. They do have a newspaper but this ain't it! Don't worry, you've obviously come to the right place. However, the last statement you made, "ENOUGH SAID" gives the impression you might be one of these 'last word' kinda people' and we would appreciate it if you practiced common rules of courtisy when visitig the pun room! Thank you and blog on!!!

Friday, Apr 18 at 6:48 AM Simple Pleasure wrote ...

I hope to have to pleasure to see these women get what they deserve...if this would have happened in South Bend there would be alot worse things said, and sentenced already with a very steep penalty..."good ole boys." Justice really means JUST US because not everybody gets it. Wrong is wrong and it shouldn't matter where you live, who you are or represent. The same rules should apply.

Thursday, Apr 17 at 3:20 PM South Bend wrote ...

Is this the Newspaper or the Bible. Why are we preaching God all the time. They made a conscious choice to use drugs. What does God have to do with it. Remember, we are all sinners. All of us. We all have free will and I don't pity them at all. They made that decision and for every action is a reaction and they will be in jail. Enough said!!!!!!!!

Thursday, Apr 17 at 1:26 PM Joe wrote ...

I dont know what to say ..Its all over and deadly.Meth is not Crack cocain but just as bad .It all makes me wonder why any one would want to live that kind of life and call it life.Sad.God did not want people to live like this Im sure that was not his Plan.

Thursday, Apr 17 at 1:20 PM Mishawaka wrote ...

Yeah........I did.

Thursday, Apr 17 at 12:39 PM Anonymous wrote ...

You know who says "All God's children are beautiful..."?

Thursday, Apr 17 at 12:13 PM someone's mom wrote ...

How sad this story is and how sad it is that people get so caught up in drugs that it takes over their life without thinking what it can, and will do to those around you. I know that one of these women has a teenage daughter that goes to Elkhart Central. How painful for her to have to live through her moms selfishness and mistakes. We must not forget those innocent that are left behind. What will happen to her? One can only imagine what she is going through.

Thursday, Apr 17 at 10:31 AM Mishawaka wrote ...

Dear Observe: You say don't be judgmental but you say you have seen uglier in daycares. Isn't that judgmental? I think you should think first before sending a post critizing those who judge when you are doing the same thing. No one in this world is ugly. We are all God's children which as far as I am concerned makes us beautiful!

Thursday, Apr 17 at 10:02 AM Mishawaka wrote ...

Poor poor pitiful crackheads. Awwww, how can we help them out here in Michica. Maybe free apartment rent for a year, free food and drink for a year so they don't have to struggle. Poor girls!!!!!

Thursday, Apr 17 at 5:34 AM observe wrote ...

i admit it was a sad thing that there was a child found where this dangerous drug was being made, but to say you wouldnt leave your child with someone because of their looks is a bit judgemental and we aren't GOD! everyone that looks like they are on crack aren't and i have seen uglier in daycares! you people must be the last miss america and your standards are based on the looks of miss america wow what poor judgement on your behave some of the ugliest people have the biggest hearts!

Wednesday, Apr 16 at 8:18 PM Frank wrote ...

I wonder if Ma Barker and her friend were ever prom queens? I hope they really throw the book at these two floozies.

Wednesday, Apr 16 at 8:13 PM Alan Christner wrote ...

well they will be gone for a long time haha make stupid decsions deal with the consequnces i dont feel sorry at all

Wednesday, Apr 16 at 7:58 PM Craig wrote ...

always kids involed

Wednesday, Apr 16 at 7:53 PM c wrote ...

Wow. Cant say that I would leave my little children with some one who looks as cracked out as these two.

Wednesday, Apr 16 at 6:04 PM dan wrote ...

Maybe mom knew full well what was going on in the basement. To some people the love of drugs is greater than the love of kids. Sad but true.

Wednesday, Apr 16 at 5:50 PM Jay wrote ...

"the price for meth brought in from Mexico has tripled." Must be getting hit with that gas surcharge. You can't tell me that when mom dropped the kids off that there wasn't a smell in the house that she knew should not be there. I like that she is working but find it hard to believe she didn't know what was going on. Mr Maggoo could figure that one out.

Wednesday, Apr 16 at 5:11 PM More scary than you want to know wrote ...

Understandably mug shots are a pretty small step down from the ones they take at the BMV. Still, I don't see anything inspiring enough about either of these people that would make it possible for me to leave a child with them. Now, take a moment and ask yourself that had the worse happened would the parent of the children be berated for not being more suspicious or doing a more thorough job of checking this place out? Now ask yourself how much YOU REALLY know about those you trust your kids to!

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