A joint investigation by area law enforcement agencies has resulted in the arrest of two Baxter County residents on felony drug charges.  Acting on intelligence gathered during the preceding weeks, officers from the Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Home Police Department, the Arkansas State Police – CID Unit, and the 14^th Judicial District Drug Task Force served a search warrant Monday afternoon at a private home located at 1376 East 9^th Street near the Mountain Home city limits.

     During the search, officers encountered two adults and two small children (an infant and a toddler) at the residence.  Officers found evidence of a methamphetamine laboratory in operation inside the home, and multiple items of evidence related to the manufacture of methamphetamine were seized. 

     Arrested and taken into custody were:

            Christopher Roy Behrens, 37 years old of the residence, charged with:

                        Manufacture of Controlled Substance – Meth – Felony

                        Manufacture of C/S in Presence of Minors – Felony

                        Distribution of C/S near Certain Facilities – a church – Felony

                        Possession of C/S Psycillibin Mushrooms – Felony

                        Possession of C/S – Marijuana – Misdemeanor

                        Contempt of Court – Misdemeanor Warrant

                        Non Payment of Fines – Misdemeanor Warrant

            Crystal Lee Caster, 26 years old of Cotter, charged with:

                        Criminal Attempt to Manufacture C/S – Meth – Felony

                        Manufacture of C/S in Presence of Minors – Felony

                        Distribution of C/S near Certain Facilities – a church – Felony

     Bond for Behrens was set at $100,000, and bond for Caster was set at $50,000.  Both will appear in Baxter County Circuit Court on August 5^th.

     A certified clean-up crew from Little Rock was required to come to the scene for clean up and disposal.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,

Baxter County Sheriff