Names released in largest meth bust in Marquette County

ISHPEMING — The names have been released in a late night bust resulting in the largest amount of meth components found in a residence in Marquette County.

ABC 10 was the only camera crew on the scene as police served John Logan Heribacka of Ishpeming township with a search warrant and raided the house Thursday night. The meth bust happened around 10pm last night at a home on the 200 block of Oak Street in Ishpeming. 40–year–old Heribacka was arrested and is currently in Marquette county jail.

Police say he was dating 37 year old Jessondra Beth Pennala of Ishpeming. She was arrested yesterday after her home on Marble Street was raided and meth making components were found. Police say the two were apparently staying at both locations with the woman’s children. A tip to police regarding the safety of the children resulted in the initial investigation.

The couple will face 2 charges each, controlled substance and operating/maintaining a meth lab in the presence of a minor which carries a sentence up to 20 years.

The Ishpeming Police Department  executed search warrants based on an investigation involving the manufacturing of methamphetamine at two separate locations in Ishpeming and Ishpeming Township.

The first search warrant at 260 Marble Street in Ishpeming Township was executed around 4 p.m. in conjunction with the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team after a joint investigation with Child Protective Services that led officers to believe that methamphetamine had been manufactured on the street. That search led to the discovery of evidence indicating meth manufacture. Officers subsequently took a 37-year-old Ishpeming woman into custody on meth related charges.

A second warrant was obtained after further investigation for a house in the 200 block of Oak Street in the City of Ishpeming. Around 10:00 p.m. Thursday, police executed the search warrant and the aforementioned largest amount of meth components were found. A 40-year-old man was taken into custody on meth related charges as a result of that search warrant. UPSET detectives began removing the components after police personnel had cleared the residence.

Police say the pair taken into custody are in a dating relationship and have allegedly been staying in both locations with the woman’s minor children. The children are being cared for by relatives.

The Marquette County Prosecutor’s Office will review the case for official charges. The Ishpeming Police expect more information to be available Friday afternoon.