According to a Press Release from the Newton City Police, on November 10, 2008 at approximately 11:53 p.m., Newton City Police attempted to stop a vehicle for not having any license plates. The driver, James A. Traxler, age 33 of Effingham, IL, and front seat passenger, Sean A. Curtiss, age 28 of Newton, fled from the vehicle. Traxler was apprehended one block south of the traffic stop near Orchard Drive. Upon searching the vehicle, officers found methamphetamine manufacturing materials and several grams of crushed Pseudoephedrine pills, which are used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine. Traxler was charged with methamphetamine charges. Curtiss was able to avoid apprehension but a warrant was issued for his arrest.
As a result of further investigation by the Newton City Police, a search warrant was obtained for a rural residence in Jasper County. On November 12, 2008 at 9:00 a.m., with the assistance of the ILEAS Southern Illinois Swat Team, and the Jasper County Sheriff’s Dept., Newton City Police executed a search warrant at a residence located at 11460 N. 600th St., Newton. Several items used to manufacture methamphetamine were seized, as well as a stolen motorcycle from Clay County, IL. Hope L. Jones, age 33, James L. Jones, age 33, and Bobby L. Gertsch, age 30, of Newton were arrested and charged with several methamphetamine charges. Rodney L. Houser, age 22, of Effingham was arrested and charged with several methamphetamine charges. Further information obtained in Jasper County, led Newton City Police to obtain another search warrant for a residence located at 211 Owens St., as well as an arrest for the owner of the residence, Jason S. Elmore, age 30.
On November 14, 2008, at approximately 1:05 p.m., Newton City Police, with the assistance of the Jasper Co. Sheriff’s Dept., executed a search warrant on the Elmore residence. Several items, commonly used to manufacture methamphetamine, were seized, as well as those items used to ingest methamphetamines. Cannabis, drug paraphernalia and items, believed to have been purchased with profits from methamphetamine sales, were also seized. Sean A. Curtiss was also taken into custody at a residence in Newton following the execution of the search warrant.
Newton City Police would like to thank the Jasper County Sheriff’s Dept., Jasper Co. State’s Attorney’s Office, ILEAS Southern Illinois Swat Team, Illinois State Police Meth Task Force and Altamont Police Dept. for their assistance.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
