Slew of charges facing three suspects in NK meth lab raid
New Kent Detective Joey McLaughlin slips under police tape in front of the trailer where this afternoon authorities took down a methamphetamine/marijuana operation.Alan Chamberlain photos
New Kent SWAT team officers and agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) descended early Monday afternoon on a ramshackle trailer parked at a New Kent County campground, taking down a methamphetamine lab along with a marijuana growing operation found inside.
Arrested suspects (l to r) Nathaniel Blake Atkins, 23, Whitney Renee Marciniak, 23, and Jason Andrew Meade, 25, face several charges pending from a Tuesday morning drug bust.
Authorities have arrested Jason Andrew Meade, 25, of the 6300 block of Hopewell Road, New Kent; Whitney Renee Marciniak, 23, of the 200 block of North Ivy Ave., Highland Springs; and Nathaniel Blake Atkins, 23, (address unavailable). Thus far, none of the charges faced by the trio relate to the meth lab and marijuana grow found inside the trailer, but additional charges are pending.
New Kent Chief Deputy Joe McLaughlin said deputies arrested Meade and Marciniak on Monday morning after the suspects left the scene of an alleged residential burglary on Newtown Road. A resident contacted the sheriff’s office in connection with a suspicious vehicle in the area.
Deputies responding spotted the suspects fleeing on foot and apprehended the pair after a short pursuit. Authorities believe the suspects are connected to a rash of copper and battery thefts in western New Kent along with Henrico and Hanover counties.
Information provided by the suspects led authorities to the trailer. Around 12:30 p.m., officers armed with a search warrant stormed the trailer, located in the Woodbourne Kampground in the 6300 block of Hopewell Road in the county’s western end.
“We received information that some of the stolen property would be here at this location and also some illegal drug activity was going on here,” McLaughlin said at the scene.
“What was found inside were the precursors for methamphetamine production and also a marijuana grow,” he added.
Also inside, authorities found Atkins, who reportedly had resided at the trailer overnight. Deputies coaxed Atkins out of the trailer and he was arrested without incident, McLaughlin said.
People living in nearby trailers were evacuated as a safety precaution just before the SWAT team, made up of officers from a multi-jurisdictional drug task force, entered the suspects’ trailer.
All afternoon, DEA agents dressed in protective garb scoured the inside of the trailer, removing items that were taken to a nearby command post for cataloging and decontamination. New Kent Fire/Rescue also assisted at the scene.
“[DEA agents] are identifying and locating evidence and then this will turn into a recovery and cleanup operation,” the chief deputy said.
Most of the trailer’s contents seized by the DEA relate to meth lab activity, but the list also includes a SKS semiautomatic rifle. Other items are methamphetamine, green plant material, digital scales, two boxes of empty pseudoephedrine packets, drain cleaner, two bottles of Lye/Heet, assorted paraphernalia, devices for smoking narcotics, syringes, tubing, notepads containing notes, and scrap yard receipts possibly pertaining to stolen copper and batteries.
“The DEA could then handle the cleanup or they could turn it over to the [campground] owners to hire their own cleanup company, depending on the amount of contamination they find,” McLaughlin said.
“The [campground] owners said they were not aware of the activities going on here, but if they had been aware of it, they certainly would have reported it,” he added.
Outside the trailer and almost hidden by overgrown weeds appeared several children’s toys. But McLaughlin said no children resided in the trailer at the time, and a previous tenant most likely had left the items behind.
Authorities originally charged Meade and Marciniak with one count each of burglary and larceny. Additional charges, however, were added (six more for Meade and another seven against Marciniak) before the pair appeared Tuesday in New Kent General District Court.
Meade now faces a total of seven charges– two counts each of felony burglary, misdemeanor petty larceny, and misdemeanor destruction of property along with one count of felony possession of burglary tools.
Marciniak is charged with eight offenses– two counts each of felony burglary and misdemeanor petty larceny plus one count each of felony possession of burglary tools, misdemeanor destruction of property, and misdemeanor unlawful entry. She also is charged with driving on a suspended license.
New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory said the charges stem from break-ins at two residences in the county, one on Lakeshore Drive and the other on Newtown Road.
During Tuesday’s arraignment, Gregory said, attorney Leigh Major was appointed to represent Marciniak. Meade’s court appointed attorney is Richard Collins.
A July 22 preliminary hearing date in general district court has been scheduled for both defendants. They are being held without bond in Henrico Jail East.
Thus far, no charges have been lodged in connection with the meth lab and marijuana growing operation authorities found inside the trailer that is listed as Meade’s address.
“We may seek additional charges before a grand jury at a later time, but we’re not sure how to handle it yet,” Gregory said, noting that both defendants have other charges pending in Hanover County.
Seeking direct indictments handed up by a grand jury would bypass the preliminary hearing process in general district court. A grand jury is set to convene on May 19, but Gregory said that date could be too soon. After that, the next grand jury meets in July.
“We’re not sure at this point in time [when the cases could go before a grand jury],” he added.
Authorities initially charged Atkins with felony heroin possession. A charge of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia has since been added.
Atkins also appeared in general district court on Tuesday. His court appointed attorney is John Jones, and his bail has been set at $1,500, Gregory said. A July 8 preliminary hearing date has been scheduled in general district court.
One suspect, identified by authorities as Nathaniel Atkins, 23, sits with his hands shackled at a picnic table outside the trailer that was raided by the SWAT team. He is wearing a white jumpsuit after going through a decontamination
process. He has been charged with one count of heroin
possession.
A DEA agent prepares to enter the suspects’ trailer.