Husband and wife Daniel P. Jones, 38, and Danielle J. Jones, 31, of Fort Dodge were taken into custody after members of the Webster County Drug Task Force, along with officers from the Fort Dodge Police Department and Webster County Sheriff’s Department, executed a search warrant at 506 N. 17th St.

Both were charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, a Class B felony; possession with intent to deliver, a Class C felony; and possession with intent to deliver marijuana, a Class D felony; according to Capt. Ryan Gruenberg, FDPD public information officer.

Officers arrived on scene shortly after 10 a.m. with an ambulance and the Fort Dodge Fire Department as a precaution due to the potential for hazardous materials, Gruenberg said.

Officers searching the residence were required to wear special equipment to prevent them from coming into contact with anything hazardous that is used in the meth manufacturing process. Officials in orange hazardous materials suits were seen checking through the garbage outside the house.

Daniel Jones

Officers found three people inside the house, and found evidence of both drug distribution and manufacturing, Gruenberg said.

He believes the closeness of the house to an elementary school could make a difference in sentencing if the couple is later found guilty.

“But that would be determined within the court system. There is that potential,” Gruenberg said. “That would be handled in the sentencing aspect of the court cases.”

There have been no students at Duncombe Elementary this year as a new building was under construction. The school is set to open in the fall.

The search warrant was the result of an extended narcotics investigation into the manufacture of meth, Gruenberg said.

Danielle Jones

“The investigation is ongoing and we encourage anyone with information to contact the Police Department,” he said.

Daniel Jones was also charged with violation of probation, and a failure to appear on four counts of third-degree theft.

The WCDTF is composed of officers from the Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Fort Dodge Police Department at 573-1426. Crime Stoppers can also be contacted anonymously by calling (515) 573-1444 (STOP), online at www.wccrimestoppers.com or by texting “LEC” and the tip to CRIMES (274637).

-Messenger photo by Joe Sutter
Daniel Jones, left, and another man wait in handcuffs as officers and Fort Dodge Firefighters investigate a house where they say meth was being manufactured, at the corner of 17th Street and Sixth Avenue South, just across the street from Duncombe Elementary.

-Messenger photo by Joe Sutter
An official in protective gear prepares to go through the garbage can outside 506 N. 17th St., where police say two people were making meth. Nearby Webster County Sheriff’s Sgt. Luke Fleener and Fort Dodge Police Officer Nathan Wolfe interview a man who was not arrested Monday.

-Messenger photo by Joe Sutter
Fort Dodge Police Lt. Dennis Quinn and officer Matt Webb arrest Daniel Jones Monday morning after executing a narcotics search warrant.

-Messenger photo by Amanda Geopfert
Police in protective gear remove Danielle and Daniel Jones from a house at 506 N. 17th St. Monday morning after an extended narcotics investigation. Police said special suits were necessary to avoid contacting anything hazardous used in the meth manufacturing process.

-Messenger photo by Amanda Geopfert
An official wearing protective gear goes through the garbage outside a house after the Webster County Drug Task Force converged on a house Monday morning.

-Messenger photo by Joe Sutter
The house police say was used to manufacture meth is located right across Sixth Avenue North from Duncombe Elementary—less than 70 yards from the school.