Two arrested in Iron Mountain meth bust

IRON MOUNTAIN — Two Iron Mountain residents were arrested Saturday on multiple meth-related charges.

The Dickinson County Prosecutor’s Office and the Iron Mountain Police Department say Charles Slaton, 34, and Erica Courney, 23, were arrested following an investigation into a meth lab at a residence on 703 West B Street in Iron Mountain.

Iron Mountain Police were assisting the Department of Human Services at the residence to check on the welfare of a child when it was discovered that meth was being produced there. The Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team was called in to help with the investigation and conduct the clean-up. Officers also secured a search warrant for the residence.

During their search, officers found and seized various ingredients used to manufacture meth, including what is suspected to be the drug itself. The suspected controlled substances were sent to the Michigan State Police Crime Lab for identification.

Slaton and Courney were arraigned late Monday afternoon in Dickinson County District Court on felony counts including: operating/maintaining a laboratory involving meth, delivery/manufacture of meth, operating/maintaining a laboratory in the presence of a minor, and operating/maintaining a laboratory involving hazardous waste. All of these counts are punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The additional count of possession of meth also carries up to a 10 year sentence.

Preliminary examinations for both suspects are scheduled for November 5th.

The Iron Mountain Police Department was assisted by the KIND drug enforcement team, the Iron Mountain Fire Department, the Department of Human Services, UPSET, and the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department.