BARABOO (WKOW) – A weekend meth bust in Baraboo brings a wake up call to the small city that hasn't seen much of the drug.
Three people were arrested as a result of Sunday's search warrant, but they have yet to be charged. Police say this isn't the end of the investigation and they will pursue those involved and any meth activity in the future.
"This is the first City of Baraboo meth lab that we've actually taken down," says Baraboo Police Chief Mark Schauf about the home on the 400 block of Hitchcock Street.
Chief Schauf says officers were able to obtain probable cause for a search warrant after the drug task force learned that a person in the community was buying large amounts of pseudoephedrine. He says both public and police awareness of the extremely addictive drug has grown in Baraboo.
"We are going to actively pursue those who are going to either use or produce meth in our community and try to take enforcement action," Schauf says.
As a result of Sunday's bust, three Baraboo residents were arrested: 33-year-old Matthew Boehning, 29-year-old Anna Nachtigal and 32-year-old Angela Nachtgal.
Sauk County District Attorney Patricia Barrett says charges had to be filed within 48 hours in order to hold the suspects. The deadline was not met and as a result, they were released from the Sauk County Jail on Tuesday morning. Barrett says the investigation is ongoing and she's still receiving reports from various law enforcement agencies involved in the bust.
Chief Schauf says, "We want to make sure that these people are charged properly and the police have to work with the District Attorney's Office to ensure convictions and our district attorney is just trying to make sure that we do it right and that they get it right as well."
Neighbors on the 400 block of Hitchcock Street told 27 News they're not happy with the suspects out of jail, but police say justice will be served.
"We are working to make sure anyone who had any part in this or violated laws will be held accountable," Chief Schauf says. He says authorities are also tackling the problem through education; for both law enforcement officials and the public.
Barrett says the three meth lab suspects are expected to be in court on September 12.
