Family affair: Raid nets meth lab, drugs, guns and stolen items

Local, state and federal authorities impounded numerous items during an early morning raid on a Lewis residence Friday. Ivy Jackson Photo. [Order this photo]

"This has been an ongoing investigation for quite some time. Investigations in rural areas are difficult to conduct and take time," Clay County Sheriff Mike Heaton said. "These types of cases are hard to build. Residents in rural areas know the lay out of the land, they know who is supposed to be in the area and what types of vehicles travel the roadways."

Shortly after 7 a.m., Friday, more than 20 officers of the Clay County Sheriff's Department, several units of Indiana State Police and the United States Marshals Office initiated a search warrant on a residence located at 9234 South County Road 550 West.

Officials confirmed "flash bangs" were used during the raid initially as a way to take the suspects into custody without incident, however, when one refused to come outside, law enforcement officers did enter the home to bring them out.

D. Ronald Moyer, 49, his son Daniel Moyer, 23, and daughter Nicki Moyer, 20, were arrested and transported to the Clay County Justice Center. The father and son were both preliminarily charged with altering (vehicle) identification number, dealing in methamphetamine, possession of stolen property and maintaining a common nuisance, while the daughter was charged with possession of paraphernalia and maintaining a common nuisance.

Ronald Moyer

"Officers found drug paraphernalia in each of the suspects rooms during the search," Heaton told The Brazil Times.

Members of the ISP Clandestine Lab Team were on the scene to clear the area of a confirmed meth lab and officials with the Indiana Gaming Commission confiscated two slot machines.

Officers also discovered allegedly stolen items at the home, including two pickup trucks, four all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), a trailer, an El Camino, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, an undisclosed amount of guns, tools, surveillance equipment and various items of drug paraphernalia.

Expecting more charges will be filed once the cases are reviewed by the Clay County Prosecutor's Office, Heaton told The Brazil Times this case has the potential of solving numerous outstanding theft cases from around the Wabash Valley.

Daniel Moyer

"Some of these items we know have been reported stolen in Vigo and Parke counties and from other areas. We even found a stolen STOP sign," Heaton said. "Now we begin the process of cataloging and identifying the items. Then, whether it's the owner or the insurance company if a claim was filed, we have to find the legal owners."

With the arrests occurring on a Friday, law enforcement officials worked with the prosecutor's office well into the evening filing the proper paperwork in court to ensure the three suspects would remain in custody throughout the weekend as the ongoing investigation continued.

Officials confirmed the same amended preliminary charges were filed against each of the suspects late Friday, including B felony dealing methamphetamine, C felony altering or removing of a vehicle identification number, D felony possession of stolen property, D felony possession of methamphetamine, D felony maintaining a common nuisance, A misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia, A misdemeanor illegal possession of anhydrous ammonia, A misdemeanor illegal storage of anhydrous ammonia and C felony possession of precursor.

Nicki Moyer

Jail officials confirmed each of the suspects remained incarcerated on a $25,000 cash bond (with no 10 percent allowed) as of press time awaiting formal arraignment per the court calendar sometime next week.