Police raid suspected meth house
GCPD arrests two, is seeking another
When members of the city's Neighborhood Intervention Team entered the residence at 2409 Logan Avenue Tuesday morning, the suspect, Christopher Wallace, fled through the back door, said Assistant Police Chief Maj. Jeff Connor.
Anyone with information on Wallace's whereabouts is asked to contact the GCPD at 877-6111.Even though Wallace was able to escape, Tuesday's raid did lead to arrests. Taken into custody were Crystal Kellems, 32, and Eric Kellems, 36. The Kellems lived at the residence.
"Materials were located as the final (meth) product, along with ammunition," said Connor, who added that the Kellems were running a meth house and had installed surveillance cameras to protect them from authorities.
The Kellems' three children were in the house at the time. The children, ages 12, 14 and 16, are staying with relatives. Authorities have contacted the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
The Kellems were charged Wednesday in the Third Circuit Court in Edwardsville with two counts of aggravated unlawful participation in methamphetamine manufacture and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Bail was set at $300,000 for each.
As of Friday, they were in custody in Madison County Jail awaiting preliminary hearings.
Wallace, 29, of the 4000 block of Kathy Drive, Pontoon Beach, was also charged Wednesday. The Madison County State's Attorney's Office charged him with two counts of aggravated unlawful participation in methamphetamine manufacture. His bond was set at $200,000.
"The charges were enhanced because the defendants were manufacturing methamphetamine in the house while the three children were present and because the house was protected by surveillance cameras," Connor said.
According to police, all three were felons, and Wallace and Eric Kellems were released from prison on meth-related charges on April 1, 2007.
Because the Kellems were felons and ammunition was found in their home, they were charged with unlawful possession of a weapon even though authorities did not find a weapon inside the residence.
The aggravated unlawful participation of methamphetamine manufacture charges come with a prison sentence of up to 60 years on each charge if convicted.
The unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon is a Class 2 felony with a prison sentence of up to seven years if convicted.
E-mail:mheil@yourjournal.com
