MONROE - The recent arrest of a Brodhead man on methamphetamine charges does not mean the highly addictive drug is becoming more pervasive in Green County.
Roy Van Brocklin, 32, of Brodhead made his initial appearance Monday in Green County Circuit Court on a series of drug charges. He was arrested Friday.
He is charged with possession with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, a class E felony; possession of materials for manufacturing methamphetamine, a class H felony; possession of waste from manufacturing methamphetamine, a class H felony; possession of drug paraphernalia, a class H felony; possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, both unclassified misdemeanors. He faces more than 33 years in prison and up to $81,500 in fines, if convicted.
He also was arrested for drunken driving, improper display of license plates, failure to give signal and a cracked windshield.
Green County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Jeff Skatrud said Van Brocklin's arrest is the first meth case in Green County he could recall. Skatrud said there haven't been any arrests for meth possession or manufacturing since 2005.
"Is it shocking? No," he said. "I think it was a matter of time, but is it a regular occurrence? That's a big 'no,' also."
Court records allege Van Brocklin had about 5 grams of meth in a plastic bag, an ephedrine or pseudoephedrine product, red phosphorus, lithium metal, sodium metal and ammonia in his truck when stopped by Brodhead Police officers at about 3 p.m. Friday, March 20. He also had flammable liquid, corrosive acid, tubing, containers, iodine, antifreeze, aluminum foil, coffee filters and a written recipe to make meth in his possession, as well as marijuana and a glass pipe and wooden pipe in his possession.
Van Brocklin remains jailed on a $5,000 cash bond and a $20,000 signature bond. He appeared in court Monday via video from the Green County Jail. Van Brocklin's preliminary hearing was scheduled for Wednesday.
Brodhead Police Chief Thomas Moczynski said Van Brocklin had the materials needed to set up a meth lab on "short notice."
He said there was a risk to public safety due to the fact Van Brocklin carried flammable liquids and other materials in his truck.
"It's dangerous when anyone transports chemicals whether they are legal or illegal," Moczynski said, "that's why we called in federal authorities."
The Green County Sheriff's Department, Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation and the State Line Area Narcotics Team assisted at the scene.
Moczynski wouldn't say if Van Brocklin's arrest would lead to other arrests. He said the investigation is in its early stages and his department wouldn't hesitate to work with other agencies to locate other offenders.
"This is out of the ordinary for Brodhead," Moczynski said. "Now that we've had this arrest, officers will be more vigilant."
The number of meth cases analyzed by the state crime lab has dropped from 726 in 2005 to 370 in 2007, according to data from the Department of Justice.
"I wouldn't say we're out of the woods, but we're making good headway," said David Spakowicz, director of field operations for the state Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation.
Skatrud worked in the department's drug unit in the 1990s until 2001, and worked on a meth investigation when a meth lab and dump sites were discovered a few miles west of the Green-Lafayette County line near South Wayne.
The people making meth in Lafayette County bought supplies and equipment from places in Green County and beyond, he said.
A meth lab usually is used by a core group of individuals who stick close to home, Skatrud said. They do, however, have to branch out to buy materials because a lot of them are regulated, such as Sudafed.
"I think there was more of a threat of it spreading and becoming a regional thing in the '90s and early 2000 than it is now," Skatrud said. "There's still individuals that are going to do it, obviously."
Both Skatrud and Spakowicz attribute the decrease to tighter laws regulating meth ingredients.
Moving Sudafed, a key ingredient in meth, behind the pharmacy counter and vendors being more careful about sales of other ingredients is working, they said.
"Things have changed in the last eight years," Skatrud said. "That made a big difference."
- Janesville Gazette reporter Gina Duwe contributed to this story.
Roy Van Brocklin, 32, of Brodhead made his initial appearance Monday in Green County Circuit Court on a series of drug charges. He was arrested Friday.
He is charged with possession with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, a class E felony; possession of materials for manufacturing methamphetamine, a class H felony; possession of waste from manufacturing methamphetamine, a class H felony; possession of drug paraphernalia, a class H felony; possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, both unclassified misdemeanors. He faces more than 33 years in prison and up to $81,500 in fines, if convicted.
He also was arrested for drunken driving, improper display of license plates, failure to give signal and a cracked windshield.
Green County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Jeff Skatrud said Van Brocklin's arrest is the first meth case in Green County he could recall. Skatrud said there haven't been any arrests for meth possession or manufacturing since 2005.
"Is it shocking? No," he said. "I think it was a matter of time, but is it a regular occurrence? That's a big 'no,' also."
Court records allege Van Brocklin had about 5 grams of meth in a plastic bag, an ephedrine or pseudoephedrine product, red phosphorus, lithium metal, sodium metal and ammonia in his truck when stopped by Brodhead Police officers at about 3 p.m. Friday, March 20. He also had flammable liquid, corrosive acid, tubing, containers, iodine, antifreeze, aluminum foil, coffee filters and a written recipe to make meth in his possession, as well as marijuana and a glass pipe and wooden pipe in his possession.
Van Brocklin remains jailed on a $5,000 cash bond and a $20,000 signature bond. He appeared in court Monday via video from the Green County Jail. Van Brocklin's preliminary hearing was scheduled for Wednesday.
Brodhead Police Chief Thomas Moczynski said Van Brocklin had the materials needed to set up a meth lab on "short notice."
He said there was a risk to public safety due to the fact Van Brocklin carried flammable liquids and other materials in his truck.
"It's dangerous when anyone transports chemicals whether they are legal or illegal," Moczynski said, "that's why we called in federal authorities."
The Green County Sheriff's Department, Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation and the State Line Area Narcotics Team assisted at the scene.
Moczynski wouldn't say if Van Brocklin's arrest would lead to other arrests. He said the investigation is in its early stages and his department wouldn't hesitate to work with other agencies to locate other offenders.
"This is out of the ordinary for Brodhead," Moczynski said. "Now that we've had this arrest, officers will be more vigilant."
The number of meth cases analyzed by the state crime lab has dropped from 726 in 2005 to 370 in 2007, according to data from the Department of Justice.
"I wouldn't say we're out of the woods, but we're making good headway," said David Spakowicz, director of field operations for the state Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation.
Skatrud worked in the department's drug unit in the 1990s until 2001, and worked on a meth investigation when a meth lab and dump sites were discovered a few miles west of the Green-Lafayette County line near South Wayne.
The people making meth in Lafayette County bought supplies and equipment from places in Green County and beyond, he said.
A meth lab usually is used by a core group of individuals who stick close to home, Skatrud said. They do, however, have to branch out to buy materials because a lot of them are regulated, such as Sudafed.
"I think there was more of a threat of it spreading and becoming a regional thing in the '90s and early 2000 than it is now," Skatrud said. "There's still individuals that are going to do it, obviously."
Both Skatrud and Spakowicz attribute the decrease to tighter laws regulating meth ingredients.
Moving Sudafed, a key ingredient in meth, behind the pharmacy counter and vendors being more careful about sales of other ingredients is working, they said.
"Things have changed in the last eight years," Skatrud said. "That made a big difference."
- Janesville Gazette reporter Gina Duwe contributed to this story.