Update: Jerrod Turpen was taken into custody around 1:15 p.m. following a tip that he was hiding in a van north of Warsaw in North Riverwood Estates subdivision. Warsaw Narcotics officers were assisted by the Indiana State Police in the capture.
(KCSD PRESS RELEASE) On Tuesday, October 14, 2014 at approximately 1:41 p.m. an off-duty Warsaw Police Officer was traveling on County Road 100 East south of County Road 350 North, when he observed a vehicle stopped on the side of the road and stopped to check on the occupants. The two occupants advised that they had run out of fuel and advised that a third person had gone to get gas. As the off-duty officer called for assistance from an on-duty unit, the occupants took off running in separate directions. The driver fled southbound with a dark colored Pit Bull puppy, while the passenger fled northbound. The officer requested assistance and several officers responded, including K9 officers. The off-duty Warsaw officer looked in the vehicle and found several methamphetamine manufacturing items.
A short time later the passenger, Trace L. Skinner, 51 years of age, of Leesburg was located walking on County Road 450 North and identified as the passenger who had fled. Information from Skinner found that he had been picked up and they were on their way to purchase meth manufacturing product when the SUV stopped running. Skinner is cooperating with investigators and was charged with level 6 felony unlawful possession of precursors to the manufacture of methamphetamine. He is being held at the Kosciusko County Jail on a $2,000 surety bond.
Warsaw Police was assisted by the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, Winona Lake Police Department, Indiana State Police, Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and Plain Township (Leesburg) Fire Department. Anyone with information on this case or the whereabouts of Jerrod Turpen is asked to contact the Warsaw Police Narcotics unit at 574-372-9540.
Original Story:
Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department officers are currently attempting to locate two suspects that fled the scene of a mobile meth lab. Around 1:40 pm, dispatch received a call stating that a vehicle was stopped on the side of the road on 100 E. near Wellington Dr in Warsaw. According to Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Chad Hill, one suspect, a white male, fled north wearing a brown shirt. The other fled south wearing a black sweatshirt and blue jeans. If you have any information on these suspects, please call the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department immediately.
