Michael Engle

WARSAW — A Leesburg man has been arrested for making meth in his barn.

Michael Chad Engle, 42, 8118 East CR 500N, Leesburg, is being charged with count I dealing methamphetamine, a level 5 felony; count II possession of methamphetamine, a level 6 felony; and count III possession of two or more chemical reagents or precursors with intent to manufacture a controlled substance, a level 6 felony.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Jan. 27, a North Webster Police Officer and Goshen Police Officer went to 8118 East CR 500 N., Leesburg, to serve an arrest warrant to Engle for failure to appear from Elkhart County Circuit Court.

Officers found Engle next to a barn on the property and arrested him. An officer searched Engle and found a plastic bag on him that contained a powdery substance that tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed less than one gram.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, officers spoke with the property owner, who advised that Engle was her boyfriend and had been living on the property since May of 2015.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, an officer searched the building where they had located Engle earlier. The officer discovered chemical reagents and/or precursors used to manufacture meth.

In the same building, officers found a plastic bottle that contained a white and red crystal sludge that tested positive for hydrochloric gas that officers identified as a HCL generator that is used in the final process of manufacturing meth. Officers also found a plastic bottle that contained a white beaded sludge with black flakes that tested positive for ammonia. Officers identified it as a one pot meth lab.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Engle admitted he knew a subject was manufacturing meth in the building.

Engle was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Oct. 25 for dealing meth. He is being held on a on a bond of $10,250 surety and cash.