VERO BEACH — The Vero Beach Police Department has arrested three people connected to Sunday morning’s mobile meth lab bust on Ocean Drive near the Village Spires condominium community.
Authorities discovered the “lab” in a vehicle parked on Ocean Drive, consisting of a bag containing two clear glass jars, one of which held a white powdery substance that coated the inside of the jar. Another bag held a small black bag containing capped syringes and burnt metal spoons. And a purse found in the car held two more metal spoons and used cotton balls.
Investigators also found a yellow plastic bottle with a small hole on top with clear plastic tubing attached and a coffee filter that had a white powdery substance on it. That substance later tested positive for meth, according to the report.
A member of the Drug Enforcement Agency confirmed through his training and experience that all materials found at the scene are used in the production of methamphetamine. Material tested at the scene was positive for meth.
Authorities came upon the scene around 5 a.m. Sunday, while on a routine patrol, according to the police reports. They saw a male pacing back and forth on the sidewalk in front of the Village Spires Condominiums.
Due to recent auto burglaries in the area, the male’s behavior and “suspicious” apparel – he was wearing an orange safety vest with no shirt under it and a construction helmet – prompted authorities to check him out. He did not appear to have been working for an official company, the report states.
When authorities maneuvered the turn, the man escaped in an unknown direction, according to reports. Two females, Audrey Bowie, 23, of Sebastian, and Bobby Black, 19, of South Carolina, were then seen in or near a white four-door vehicle. One of the females was looking in the trunk for something when authorities approached and asked about the male. The woman told him he had come over and offered to fix the vehicle, but she had declined.
Authorities ran the vehicle’s tag and found it was not assigned to the women’s vehicle and was expired by several months. The women consented to a search of the vehicle.
A large red bag was observed on the rear bench seat of the vehicle, according to police. An ID card belonging to Robert Coleman II, 32, of Vero Beach, was found in the bag. Coleman was later identified as the male who ran from the scene.
The red bag also contained the items authorities believe to be part of a mobile meth lab – the glass jars, syringes, spoons, coffee filter, and plastic bottle.
A perimeter was put in place to locate Coleman, according to the report. At 6:22 a.m. Sunday, he was observed in the area of Acacia Road and Mockingbird Drive in Vero Beach, and taken into custody.
Coleman, Bowie, and Black, were arrested and booked into the Indian River County Jail Sunday evening. Coleman was arrested at Acacia Road and Mockingbird Drive in Vero Beach and Black and Bowie were arrested in the 3500 block of Ocean Drive.
Coleman faces charges of felony manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, petit theft, misdemeanor resisting arrest without violence, and loitering or prowling.
Black and Bowie face charges of manufacturing a controlled substance methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
They are all currently in custody at the Indian River County Jail with no bond set.
Sept. 15 9:48 a.m.
VERO BEACH — The Vero Beach Police Department has arrested three people connected to Sunday morning’s mobile meth lab bust on Ocean Drive near the Village Spires condominium community.
Authorities discovered the “lab” in a vehicle parked on Ocean Drive while trying to find a male who appeared “suspicious” and had fled from the area. When officers approached two women to seek their assistance, police discovered items consistent with a meth lab inside the vehicle.
Two females, Audrey Bowie, 23, of Sebastian, and Bobby Black, 19, of South Carolina, were arrested and face multiple charges including manufacturing a controlled substance methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bowie being held at the county jail without bail. Black is being held in lieu of $85,500 bail, Bowie on $60,500 bail.
During the course of the investigation, Vero Beach Police identified the male as Robert Coleman II, 32, of Vero Beach, from an ID card found in the women’s vehicle. Coleman was later located in the area of Acacia Road and Mockingbird Drive, Vero Beach, and was arrested.
Coleman, too, is being held at the county jail in lieu of $60,500 bail, on charges of felony manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, petit theft, misdemeanor resisting arrest without violence, and loitering or prowling.
Sept. 14 12:07 p.m.
VERO BEACH — The Vero Beach Police Department have discovered a mobile meth lab on Ocean Drive, according to Vero spokesman John Morrison.
The bust happened at 3400 Ocean Dr. in front of the Village Spires Condominiums.
This article will be updated as more details become available.