Police arrest Frakes man for making meth

Whitley County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Frakes man early Thursday morning for manufacturing methamphetamine after allegedly finding chemicals to make meth on him.

Sgt. Denny Shelley charged Brian W. Hatfield with manufacturing methamphetamine about 4 a.m., according to his arrest citation.

"These arrests are part of an ongoing methamphetamine investigation. Sheriff Lawrence Hodge expects more arrests to follow," according to a sheriff’s department press release.

Shelley initially went to Hatfield’s residence at 2384 Highway 190 about 2 a.m. to serve him with an arrest warrant for receiving stolen property and resisting arrest, according to the arrest citation.

"While serving warrant, this offender had a black bag containing chemicals to manufacture methamphetamine," Shelley wrote on the arrest citation.

In addition, police arrested Amber Partin, 22, who also lived at the residence, for prior warrants and lodged her in the Bell County Detention Center.

According to Hatfield’s arrest warrant, on June 30, 2008, he allegedly had a 15-foot long piece of railroad steel in his possession.

"The defendant also unlawfully and intentionally prevented or attempted to prevent a peace officer from effecting an arrest by fleeing," CSX Railroad Police Officer Greg Powers wrote in the warrant.

Hatfield is being held at the Whitley County Detention Center in lieu of a $25,000 cash bond. He is scheduled to appear in Whitley District Court on July 8.

Hodge, Sheriff’s Sgt. Dennis Foley and deputies Brett Reeves and Adam Jarboe assisted with the investigation along with Bell County Sheriff Bruce Bennett, K-9 Officer Carl Frith, and Bell County deputies Doug Jordan, B.J. Brock, Shane Stewart, and Jimmy Stewart.

Hodge said that he thanks Bennett and his deputies for their assistance and cooperation in this matter.