Bonus in Bust: Meth Lab Found in Palo Gun Burglary Probe

Linn County Sheriff's Deputies found at least one stolen gun and a meth lab during the investigation triggered in part by a January burglary, in which numerous guns were taken from a Palo home business.

Authorities arrested five people on numerous charges ranging from first-degree burglary, manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of firearm as a felon, during the execution of a search warrant at two homes on Friday.

"We found a working meth lab at the Lincoln Dr address and remnants of several old labs at the Main St address," Sheriff Brian Gardner said in an email response to Patch.

The sheriff's office executed search warrants simultaneously at 407 Main St. and 29 Lincoln Drive in Palo. They recovered "illegal narcotics and stolen items, including a confirmed stolen long gun," according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

Gardner said the "long gun" was a 9mm carbine rifle.

The following people face charges:

• Jeremy McAtee, age 34, of 29 Lincoln Dr, Palo, was charged with Possession of a Firearm as a Felon; Burglary 1st Degree, Manufacture of Methamphetamine, Aiding and Abetting the Manufacture of Methamphetamine, and Theft 3rd Degree.
• Joshua Charmosta, age 34, of 440 9th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, was charged with Possession of Precursors, Aiding and Abetting the Manufacture of Methamphetamine, and Driving While Barred.
• Joshua Matheny, age 26, of 407 Main St, Palo, was charged with Possession of a Firearm as a Felon; Possession of Stolen Property, Manufacture of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
• John Matheny, age 49, of 407 Main St, Palo, was charged with Manufacture of Methamphetamine.
• Alisha Cryder, age 21, of Louisville, KY, was charged with an outstanding warrant for Theft 5th Degree.

KCRG had coverage from when the search was going on Friday:

Police are investigating two homes located on Lincoln and Main Streets in Palo. Linn County Sheriff's deputies were on both scenes for several hours.

Authorities were following up, in part, on a burglary that occurred in Palo on
Jan. 29, in which numerous firearms were taken.

Gardner said the original burglary was from an outbuilding at a residence, in which the owner has a machine shop and works on cars.

The Linn County Sheriff’s Office Immediate Response Unit, Patrol Division, and
Detective Bureau were involved in the execution of the search warrants.