Over Dozen Held In Narcotics Raids Inactive Methamphetamine Labs Found At Two Locations

Narcotics agents arrested more than a dozen people Tuesday in a string of raids on several Kootenai County homes.

Officers from the state Criminal Investigations Bureau, Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department and Post Falls Police Department found inactive methamphetamine labs at two of the locations, said Wayne Longo, CIB special agent in charge. No one was injured.

Ten people were arrested on charges of possessing, trafficking or manufacturing methamphetamine. Police arrested several others on minor charges, including possessing small amounts of drugs.

Collectively, “it’s probably the biggest impact we’ve had for quite some time,” Longo said of the arrests.

While several of the people arrested knew each other, Longo said agents are not certain the alleged criminal activities at the houses were related.

A raid on a “compound” at 20390 U.S. Highway 95 about 8 a.m. started Tuesday’s drug busts. While a police scanner squawked inside a building, about two dozen officers rushed a house and two trailers on the property, which spanned several acres, Longo said.

Agents seized about $8,000 in cash and nearly three dozen weapons, including crossbows, shotguns, handguns and assault rifles, Longo said. Empty glassware, filters and chemical containers also were found boxed up inside an abandoned vehicle on the property, he said.

Arrested at the compound were Edward Howard, 42, on charges of possession of methamphetamine and manufacturing methamphetamine; Delaynne Adams, 34, possession of methamphetamine and conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, and Robert Gamble, 38, trafficking in methamphetamine.

Gary Coma, 46; Christina Dorland, 23; Wendy Deluca, 27; Abby Sheldon, 27, and Jay Statton, 40, also were arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine.

Officers seized about two ounces of finished methamphetamine and a substance they suspect may be heroin, Longo said. They are awaiting test results on the suspected heroin and may seek additional charges against Howard.

About a half-dozen other people who showed up at the compound after the raid - police believe to buy drugs - also were arrested on charges of drunken driving, driving with a suspended license and possessing small amounts of marijuana, Longo said.

Following the bust at the compound, Longo said state and local officers split into two teams to make simultaneous raids on homes in Post Falls and Rose Lake. Agents had been investigating all three locations for the past couple of months, he said.

Kootenai County sheriff’s deputies and Post Falls police officers rushed the Post Falls house at 626 W. 13th St., arresting Gary Kingsley, 39, on charges of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine.

Officers said they found about two ounces of methamphetamine, and a small amount of glassware and chemicals in the house.

Two other people at the home when officers arrived also were arrested on misdemeanor charges of frequenting a place where drugs are used.

Kingsley had just recently finished serving probation following a drug conviction, Longo said.

Across the county, state agents arrested Jackie Jansen, 40, on charges of possession of methamphetamine and manufacturing methamphetamine after raiding a house at 24500 Canyon Road.

Officers said they found a large methamphetamine lab inside one of the buildings on the property.

Neighbors who live near the Rose Lake home said they had suspected drug activity at the house for more than a year. Several large dogs roamed the property and a steady stream of people stopped at the house only momentarily before leaving, they said.

Some said they noticed short meetings at Dumpsters near the home.

“They were real blatant about meeting real quick all the time,” said one man, who asked not to be identified.

Agents said they found about three grams of methamphetamine, drugmaking chemicals and lab equipment in the buildings.

Tuesday’s raids bring the total number of methamphetamine labs located by state agents in North Idaho this year to more than two dozen.

This sidebar appeared with the story: TOTAL BUSTS Tuesday’s raids bring the total number of methamphetamine labs located by state agents in North Idaho this year to more than two dozen.