By Jeff Lehr

jlehr@joplinglobe.com

LAMAR, Mo. — Search warrants served by sheriff’s deputies this week on two homes near Liberal led to the seizure of several suspected stolen items and two meth labs, and the arrest of seven people.

Barton County Sheriff Mitchell Shaw said the case originated in Kansas with the investigation by the Wilson County Sheriff’s Department of some thefts. Shaw said the investigation led to a residence on Highway 43 near Liberal.

Deputies from the Barton and Wilson county sheriff departments were able to recover some fishing poles and tackle on the property believed to have been stolen in Kansas, the sheriff said. But during the course of recovering the poles and tackle, investigators were led to extend their search of the property, and a clandestine methamphetamine lab and numerous other suspected stolen items allegedly were discovered.

A 41-year-old man, a 51-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl were taken into custody, along with a 47-year-old man from Pittsburg, Kan., on suspicion of manufacturing a controlled substance and receiving stolen property.

Among other items, authorities seized some four-wheelers, lawn mowers, chain saws, a trailer and numerous tools. Shaw said some of the property has been linked to thefts in Missouri and Kansas.

The discoveries at the residence led to a search of a second one nearby on Highway 43 later on Tuesday, Shaw said. He said deputies obtained information that the occupants of the second residence had been purchasing chemicals used to manufacture meth.

At the second residence, deputies found coffee filters in a toilet bowl, leading investigators to believe the residents possibly had been flushing meth lab items. A 39-year-old woman and 34-year-old man were taken into custody at the second residence and a bag containing meth allegedly was found in the woman’s possession.

Deputies stopped and arrested a 38-year-old woman, from Weir, Kan., who pulled into the driveway of the second residence while they were there, on three outstanding warrants.

All seven people arrested Tuesday have been released from custody without any charges having been filed. Shaw said the Barton County prosecutor wants lab reports on the alleged drug and lab seizure, and identification of victims in the stolen-property case, before filing charges.