Columbia County police: Traffic stop results in meth arrests

1:48 PM, Jun 21, 2012   |    comments
Chaylen Ortega (L), Keith Wheeldon (R)
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COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. -- The Columbia County Sheriff's Office has arrested two people on meth charges after a traffic stop for a tag violation.

On Wednesday, at 1 p.m., deputies with the Columbia County Sheriff's office pulled over a car with 31-year-old Keith Wheeldon and 22-year-old Chaylen Ortega inside.

When deputies looked in the car, they found items that would be used for the clandestine manufacture of methamphetamine, according to a news release from Columbia County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Sergeant Ed Seifert.

Seifert said deputies found lithium batteries, pseudoephedrine and a container of muriatic acid in the car. Police were able to determine that the two had just recently purchased the pseudoephredine at a local pharmacy.

Ortega, who police say was driving, had a warrant for her arrest for violation of probation. She was arrested and charged with possession of listed chemicals with intent to manufacture a controlled substance and violation of probation. She is not eligible to receive bond.

Wheeldon was also arrested. He was charged with possession of listed chemicals with intent to manufacture a controlled substance. His bond has been set at $5,000.

Both Wheeldon and Ortega were taken to the Columbia County Detention Facility.

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