John Mangalonzo, The Hawk Eye, Burlington, Iowa –
KEOKUK – A Thursday morning raid of a home in connection with the investigation into the making and delivery of meth and marijuana in the Lee County area has resulted in the arrests of four Iowa residents.
Casey Joe Davis, 29, of Keokuk is charged with conspiracy to manufacture more than five grams of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a city park and in the presence of a minor, possession of meth with intent to deliver, possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, delivery of marijuana, maintaining a drug house and three counts of prohibited acts relating to the purchase of more than the allowable amount of pseudoephedrine, a major component in meth cooking.
The combined effort from the Lee County Narcotics Task Force, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol and the Fort Madison Police Department’s K9 unit also netted Brandy M. Davis, 25, also of Keokuk.
With the exception of prohibited acts, Brandy Davis was booked into the Lee County jail Thursday charged with the enhanced meth manufacturing charges relating to making it close to a city park and in front of a child, similar to Casey Davis’ charges.
Also a result of the operation, two other Keokuk residents, Taylor C. Dickens, 25, and Kenneth L. Kellum, 25, also were apprehended and charged with conspiracy to manufacture more than five grams of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a city park and in the presence of a minor.
If convicted, Dickens and Kellum could face up to 35 years in prison, while Brandy Davis could be sentenced to as many as 52 years if convicted of the charges lodged against her.
Casey Davis faces more than 57 years in the penitentiary.
The Lee County Narcotics Task Force had been investigating allegations the group was cooking meth inside Casey and Brandy Davis’ home at 119 Des Moines St.
Stacy Weber, commander of the task force, said agents executed a search warrant where items indicative of “shake and bake” meth production were found and seized at the address in addition to other items authorities described as “indicative of the distribution of controlled substances.”
One-pot, also known as the shake-and-bake method, means cooks can make meth in one sealed container that generally is flipped upside-down to cause the reaction needed to turn several toxic ingredients into meth.
The chemical reaction inside the container, which can be anything from a Coleman fuel can to a soda bottle, causes an extremely high amount of pressure to build up after being shaken. It can create a significant explosion, authorities said.
Weber said they anticipate more arrests in connection with the case.
