Lebanon —
Jamie Judkins, 46, and Tristdonna Copp, 36, appeared in Lebanon District Court on Monday morning to answer to several charges in connection with the pre-dawn bust on Sunday that drew a large police presence to the 128-unit complex.
Judkins and Copp both face two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell.
Court documents indicate the pair possessed methamphetamine and clonazepam, a prescription medication for anxiety and other disorders.
In addition to those charges, Judkins also faces two misdemeanors, including resisting arrest and stalking. Copp obtained a restraining order against Judkins in August.
Neither Judkins nor Copp entered pleas to the charges on Monday; a probable cause hearing has been scheduled for later this month.
While executing a search warrant on Sunday, officers found chemicals and compounds commonly used to manufacture methamphetamine inside 125 Renihan Meadows, Lebanon Police Chief Richard Mello said in a telephone interview on Monday.
They also found methamphetamine, he said, although police are still investigating whether the substance was cooked inside the residence or whether it was transported there.
“At the time we executed the search warrant, there wasn’t any recent activity,” Mello said, defining “recent” as within the past 24 hours.
According to an affidavit filed in Copp’s court case, Lebanon police responded to Renihan Meadows, located off Pine Tree Cemetery Road, around 4 a.m. Sunday to complete a welfare check at the request of the New London Police Department, which received information that Copp may be overdosing on some sort of drug.
Judkins and Copp had checked into the Fairway Motel at the Lake Sunapee Country Club in New London late Saturday night, and the hotel manager called New London police after she heard a car speed out of the parking lot, the affidavit says.
The manager already was on high alert because Copp looked “very lethargic” when the two checked in, the manager told police, according to the affidavit.
Officers arrived at the hotel shortly after midnight and found the front door to the room Judkins and Copp were staying in wide open. They also found drug paraphernalia and a “small amount” of blood on the shower curtain, according to the affidavit.
Police checked the National Crime Information Center database and discovered Copp had a restraining order against Judkins.
Lebanon police went to Renihan Meadows early Sunday morning and obtained a search warrant to enter after repeated attempts to get someone inside to open the door failed.
Police eventually entered the unit through the basement door and found Copp, who told police Judkins wasn’t inside, according to the affidavit.
An officer, however, located Judkins nearby. Judkins attempted to flee, but was taken into custody, according to the affidavit.
Police initially cited Copp into court on a third charge of hindering apprehension, but prosecutors didn’t proceed with that charge.
Police obtained a second search warrant to look for illegal drugs inside the apartment and found powdered methamphetamine, crystal methamphetamine and clonazepam pills, according to the affidavit.
Mello, the police chief, said exposure to some of the chemicals used to make methamphetamine can be dangerous, and the chemicals can cause an explosion if not mixed properly.
Officials, however, concluded that nearby residents weren’t in danger and they decided not to evacuate the complex.
Mello said he was not aware whether children were living inside the apartment with Judkins and Copp.
“(The Division of Children, Youth and Families) has been notified and will investigate whether children are believed to be living there with either of the occupants,” Mello said.
Ray Stanford, the executive vice president of Moseley Associates, who doubles as the property manager for Renihan Meadows, said this incident is out of character for the complex.
He said he hasn’t seen anything like this happen there in his 13 years of overseeing the property.
He characterized Renihan Meadows as a “family orientated,” “very quiet” and “very safe” place to live.
Jordan Cuddemi can be reached at jcuddemi@vnews.com or 603-727-3248.