Published: March 27, 2007 12:21 am      

ORLEANS COUNTY: Clandestine meth lab found by cops

SHELBY — Three men were arrested Friday after police said they were involved in the production and distribution of methamphetamine in the Village of Medina and the Town of Shelby.

The discovery of the meth lab was the result of two vehicle stops and the execution of a search warrant Friday for an apartment at 4099 Shelby Basin Road.

“This is the first of it’s kind,” Lead Investigator Joseph Sacco said. “This is the first clandestine meth lab in Orleans County that we know of.”

Kelly J. Bertram, 37, of Luray, Mo. and Michael W. Hageman, 22, of Kahoka, Mo. were arrested on outstanding arrest warrants from South Dakota for aiding and abetting the unauthorized manufacturing of a controlled substance. A search of Bertram’s vehicle produced a small quantity of methamphetamine and equipment used in the processing of methamphetamine. Luke W. Buelke, 24, of Harlowton, Mont., was also arrested during one of the vehicle stops for third-degree hindering prosecution for hiding Hageman in his vehicle.

The task force was assisted by several other local and federal agencies including the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, Niagara County Drug Task Force, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the New York State Police Special Response Team.

The three individuals arrested were living and working in the area and employed as subcontractors at the ethanol plant currently under construction in the Town of Shelby, according to Orleans County District Attorney Joseph Cardone.

“In no way do we lay this at the door of the ethanol plant,” Cardone said. “The officials at the ethanol plant have been completely cooperative with our investigation.”

According to Sacco, the two-month long investigation had roots at the Spink County Sheriff’s Office in Redfield, S.D. where Bertram and Hageman were wanted in connection with a clandestine methamphetamine lab in operation there.

“We did recover some methamphetamine,” Cardone said. “Not a large amount, but they were in possession of meth.”

According to Cardone, the amount of illegal drugs recovered is not as important as the fact that the drugs were being produced in the lab at the Shelby Basin Road. The process for making methamphetamine is “extremely volatile and dangerous.” Common household items and cold medicine are used in its production.

“As a result of the entry it was quickly determined that certain chemicals and equipment were present that clearly indicated the presence of a clandestine meth lab,” Sacco said.

Because of the hazardous conditions that police agents would have been going into at the apartment where the search warrant was executed, Orleans County Director of Emergency Management Paul Wagner was requested to the scene and responded with a full hazmat response along with the Shelby Fire Company and the Medina Ambulance.

“Due to the nature of the incident, the chemicals have to be disposed of through a contractor who deals with that type of stuff,” Sacco said.

The scene was processed by the DEA and the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force with the assistance of the Orleans County Hazmat Team. According to Sacco, crews were on the scene until approximately 6 a.m. Saturday.

“Everybody worked well together,” Sacco said.

Bertram and Hageman are currently being held without bail at the Orleans County Jail on the fugitive from justice warrant issued by Shelby Town Justice Dawn M. Keppler. They both appeared in Orleans County Court on Monday for extradition hearings because they are wanted in South Dakota. Buelke was arraigned by Keppler and taken to the Orleans County Jail in lieu of $4,000 cash bail or $8,000 bond.

Federal charges are also pending for Bertram and Hageman. The two men will face charges in both New York and South Dakota, according to Cardone.

Contact reporter Miranda Vagg at (585) 798-1400, ext. 2225.