Department of Child Services is investigating the welfare of two young children who reside in a Syracuse apartment where a methamphetamine lab was located on Thursday evening.

At about 7 p.m. Syracuse Police officers went to 303 E. Palm Dr. on an anonymous drug tip where they located an active meth lab inside a garage at Apartment 9. Further investigation into the meth lab revealed 3 “one pot” labs and numerous precursors inside the garage. The apartment was located within 1,000 feet of a preschool and day care center.

During the investigation it was also determined that two children, ages 9 and 3, reside at the apartment but were not home at the time of the meth lab. Due to the fact the children live at the home DCS was contacted. The Indiana State Police Clandestine Lab Team was called into dismantle the lab and remove the chemicals.

At the time of the officers’ arrival there was one person inside the garage and he was taken into custody. Ronald Johnson, 42, a resident of 303 E. Palm Dr., was arrested and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school as a Class A Felony.

Johnson was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail where he is being held on $20,000.00 bond.

Syracuse Police were assisted by the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force during the investigation. Anyone with information on illegal drug activity is asked to call the Syracuse Police Department at 574-457-5333 or the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force at 574-372-2494.