Levy
County Drug Task Force investigators and investigators from the LCSO Criminal
Investigation Division (CID) concluded an investigation today that began in February
of this year. On February 22, 2016, LCSO
Deputies responded to a reported suspicious child death at 755 Pennsylvania
Avenue in the Town of Bronson. During
that investigation a clandestine Methamphetamine Lab was discovered and
dismantled on the property.
Based
on the evidence gathered in February, Investigator Joe Barrera was able to
obtain an arrest warrant for Amanda Marie Davis (9-20-78). The warrant was issued for one count of
Trafficking in Methamphetamine and one count of Manufacturing
Methamphetamine. The warrant was issued
by Levy County Judge Tim Browning on June 1, 2016.
On
June 3, 2016 DTF and CID Investigators went to the residence at 755
Pennsylvania Avenue in Bronson to arrest Davis on the outstanding warrant. As they approached the residence,
Investigators discovered evidence of another methamphetamine lab at the
residence. They took Davis into custody
on the outstanding warrant.
During
their search of the premises, the investigators located and detained the
following additional individuals:
Debra D. Smith (7-6-64)
Erica Christine McElveen (2-5-87) and
Brian Keith Gruhler (12-9-66)
Investigators
discovered an active methamphetamine lab on the premises as well as a
significant amount of evidence of long term manufacturing at the location. The evidence included 338 grams of liquid
methamphetamine.
LCSO
personnel were required to put on Haz-Mat suits and make the lab safe. They were assisted by personnel from both the
Bronson and Williston Fire Departments. Investigators
also discovered that someone had bypassed the electric meter at the residence
and was in fact stealing electricity.
At
the conclusion of the investigation, Davis was arrested and charged on the
outstanding warrant as well as four new charges for Trafficking Methamphetamine,
Manufacturing of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and
Maintaining a Drug Dwelling.
Smith
was charged with Conspiracy to Manufacture Methamphetamine. McElveen was charged with Violation of her
Probation. Gruhler was charged with
Trafficking in Methamphetamine and Manufacturing Methamphetamine.
All
the defendants were transported to the Levy County Detention Center where they
are awaiting their first court appearance.
Methamphetamine use and production continues to put a strain on law enforcement and public safety resources. LCSO encourages the public to contact us or Crime Stoppers of Levy County to report suspicious methamphetamine activity.
"Know Something We
Don't" Call Crime Stoppers 1-877-349-8477
remain anonymous.