By Vicky Wedig
Staff Writer
A status conference is scheduled for Jan. 18 for an Elkhorn man who pleaded not guilty Nov. 14 to manufacturing methamphetamine.
Bryan N. Tidwell, 32, was charged Oct. 27 in Walworth County Circuit Court with manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of waste from methamphetamine manufacturing.
According to the criminal complaint, the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office searched Tidwell’s West Street home on Oct. 13 and found items used to manufacture meth including salt, coffee filters and what appeared to be lye.
A Drug Enforcement Agency agent found evidence of a meth lab in the home and ordered everyone out because of concerns about fire and explosion, according to the complaint.
DEA agents put on Tyvek suits to examine the residence and found significant fire damage under the bed in the main bedroom indicative of a meth cook operation that went badly, according to the complaint.
The team found items related to meth production including a plastic Golden Peach bottle with a sand-like substance in it and a tube coming out of the top that was likely used as a gas generator for meth production, according to the complaint.
Deputies found 7.39 grams of meth, .24 grams of marijuana and pills including Xanaflex and an antidepressant for which Tidwell did not appear to have a prescription, according to the complaint.
