Three Ark City residents were arrested late Friday as the result of an ongoing investigation into anhydrous ammonia thefts at the Hackney branch of Valley Co-Op, sheriff Don Read said Monday.
James Thomas Brown V, 46, Jeremy Duane Brown, 19, Hope Nicole Hoskins, 19, faces charges of theft, transporting anhydrous ammonia in unauthorized contained and possession of drug manufacturing paraphernalia and conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.
Around 11 p.m. Friday, a surveillance team at the Co-Op watched as two people ? who police believe were James Brown and Jeremy Brown ? were dropped off and began removing anhydrous from a nurse tank on the property. The same vehicle returned a few minutes later and picked up the two men.
A sheriff’s deputy and Kansas Highway Patrol trooper stopped the vehicle near the intersection of 71st Rd. and 222nd Rd. At that point a container ? later found to contain anhydrous ? was thrown from the vehicle.
The Browns also face a charge of criminal trespassing and Hoskins faces additional charges that include possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Hoskins has been released on bond.
Read said that his office ? with assistance of the highway patrol, Kansas Bureau of Investigations and the Cowley County Drug Task Force ? has been monitoring the Co-Op due to a recent pattern of thefts.
Anhydrous ammonia is a key component in the manufacturing of methamphetamine. Hackney is just east of Strother Field Industrial Park.
