Spooner Police Department responded to a call of a suspicious man at a residence in the city Spooner, WI on January 14, 2018. The subsequent investigation led to the discovery of items used to manufacture methamphetamine along with numerous items of drug paraphernalia.
Four people were arrested from the residence because they had active arrest warrants through the Wisconsin Department of Corrections/Probation & Parole. Criminal charges have been filed in Washburn County Circuit Court against 3 of those individuals: Craig Bell, of Spooner, WI; Jordan Bell, of Ashland, WI; and Roxanne Greene, also of Ashland, WI. Jordan Bell and Roxanne Greene initially provided false names to officers who arrived at the residence.
A search warrant was obtained for the residence and this was executed with assistance from the Washburn County Sheriff’s Office, the Wisconsin State Patrol, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
During interviews with law enforcement Craig Bell also allegedly stated that throughout the first part of January 2018 he had obtained methamphetamine on multiple occasions from more than one person.
Items seized during the execution of the search warrant included multiple used hypodermic needles, multiple ‘gem baggies’ which tested positive for methamphetamine residue, numerous ‘pipes’/devices for smoking controlled substances, a digital scale which tested positive for methamphetamine residue, and 2 plastic bags containing nearly 300 grams of white crystalline substance.
A criminal complaint filed in Washburn County Circuit Court against Craig Bell states that interviews with those arrested revealed that the 2 bags of white crystalline substance were not methamphetamine; however, Jordan Bell allegedly stated to officers that he intended to sell the substance as methamphetamine.
Following that initial search warrant, local law enforcement contacted the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), because officers had seen items outside of the residence which appeared to have been utilized in the manufacturing of methamphetamine. Special Agents of DCI responded to assist Spooner Police Department with the assessment of these items. Spooner Fire Department provided safety back-up. Clean up and disposal of the items was provided by a special team from Chicago who traveled to the City of Spooner to assist.
According to the criminal complaint filed against Craig Bell, law enforcement conducted testing and determined that there were components for at least 2 “shake and bake” (or “one pot”) methamphetamine labs. Due to the Ammonia gas and Hydrochloric Acid gas that is emitted during the process of ‘cooking’ methamphetamine, there is a high risk of explosion not only during the process of manufacturing the methamphetamine, but also from the waste that remains after the methamphetamine is finished and taken out of the containers which were used to cook it.
The criminal complaint goes on to state that another female who was in the residence told officers that Craig Bell had manufactured methamphetamine approximately 1 month prior to this incident using the components that were found by law enforcement. Craig Bell also allegedly admitted during an interview with an officer that he had utilized those components to manufacture methamphetamine; using ingredients including Coleman fuel, Red Devil Lye, and lithium from batteries. (The name of the female referenced here is not being included in this story as no record of criminal charges for her stemming from this incident can be located by DrydenWire.com.)
The following criminal charges have been filed:
Craig Bell is charged with Class F Felony Manufacturing of Methamphetamine; Class H Felony Possession of Waste from Methamphetamine Manufacturing; Class H Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia for Manufacturing Methamphetamine; Class I Felony Maintain Drug Trafficking Place; Class I Felony Possession of Methamphetamine; and Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The charges filed against Craig also have the Party to a Crime penalty enhancer added as well a penalty enhancer for repeat offender due to prior criminal convictions.
At a bail bond hearing on January 15, 2018, the Court placed Craig on a $500 signature bond. Craig is scheduled to make an initial appearance on his criminal charges on February 12.
Charges of Class C Felony Possession With Intent - Counterfeit Amphetamine, Party to a Crime; Class I Felony Possession of Methamphetamine, Party to a Crime; Misdemeanor Bail Jumping; Misdemeanor Resisting or Obstructing an Officer; and Misdemeanor Possess Drug Paraphernalia, Party to a Crime have been filed against Jordan Bell, according to online circuit court records.
Jordan Bell also appeared at a bail bond hearing on January 15, 2018, and was placed on a $100 cash bail bond. An Initial Appearance hearing is scheduled in Washburn County Circuit Court for Jordan.
A criminal complaint has also been filed against Roxanne Greene charging her with Class I Felony Possession of Methamphetamine; Misdemeanor Bail Jumping; Misdemeanor Resisting or Obstructing an Officer; Misdemeanor Possess Drug Paraphernalia. All charges filed against Roxanne have a penalty enhancer added for being a repeat offender due to prior criminal convictions.
The Court placed Roxanne on a $500 cash bail bond on January 15, 2018. At a preliminary examination hearing on February 8, 2018, the Court found probable cause for Roxanne’s criminal charges to be bound over for trial. Roxanne remains in the custody of the Washburn County Jail and is due back in court in March.
Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Last Update: Feb 13, 2018 8:39 am CST
