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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Since We Asked Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend August 31, 2006 Click image for larger view Medford police Detective Jim Williams collects evidence of a meth lab from a house near South Medford High School. Two children in the home were taken into protective custody and two adults living in the home were arrested. A police manhunt led police to the residence. (Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli) Tip leads to meth lab Fugitive arrested as police conduct Medford stakeout By chris conrad Mail Tribune The arrest of a Portland fugitive linked to a white supremacist group led police Wednesday to an alleged mobile meth lab within blocks of South Medford High School. Police got a tip early in the day that led them to a home in the 600 block of J Street where Shane Allen Waltner, 26, was hiding out. After a brief stakeout, Waltner was seen leaving in a car with two men. Officers stopped the car near the intersection of Barnett Road and Grape Street. "Waltner was armed with 9 mm Beretta (handgun) when we stopped the car," Medford police Lt. Tim George said. "He threw it in the back seat in an attempt to hide it." Waltner was lodged without bail in the Jackson County Jail on charges of giving false information to police, unlawful possession of a weapon, being an ex-felon in possession of a weapon, first-degree theft and a parole violation. Advertisement "It was pretty brazen on his part to be hiding out just a few blocks from the police department," he added. The other men in the car also were arrested. David Bryan Dessart, 37, who lived in the J Street house, was charged with manufacturing methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of methamphetamine, two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and first-degree child neglect. He remained lodged in jail late Wednesday on $43,000 bail. Norman Tyler Boyd, 46, faces charges of being an ex-felon in possession of a weapon, possession of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a weapon and a parole violation. He was lodged in jail without bail. Waltner was not home Sunday when the Medford SWAT team stormed a Talent home in the 100 block of Taylor Street. During the raid, Dale Arthur Amstutz-Dunn, 25, was arrested on weapons charges and a parole violation. He and Waltner also are wanted by Portland police for a rash of burglaries there in which several guns were stolen. A .38-caliber pistol and shotgun were found in the home. George said there is evidence the men sold guns to local pawn shops. Two women also were arrested on warrants, drug and weapons charges. Both are believed to have connections with the Organized Aryan Crime Syndicate, a white supremacist gang that operates in and out of prison. The duo will face local charges before being shipped back to Portland, George said. George believed the men were hiding out in Southern Oregon before moving elsewhere. There is no evidence that the hate group has a presence in Medford, he said. In addition, Patti Kay Taylor, 35, who lives at the J Street home with boyfriend Dessart, was arrested on drug and child endangerment charges after police found what they described as a mobile meth lab in a back room. The materials, which consisted of hollowed-out signal flares, acetone, camp fuel oil and several grimy soft drink bottles, were hauled away by state environmental clean-up workers. Taylor's children, 17 and 11, were taken into protective custody by child welfare workers. "So far seven people have been arrested in connection with this case," George added. "Waltner and Amstutz-Dunn have already spent time in prison, and it looks like they'll be going back soon." Reach reporter Chris Conrad at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected] . SWAT sweep sends ex-felon back to jail Aja Michelle Benefiel, who was arrested along with three others during Sunday's SWAT team raid in Talent, is no stranger to Rogue Valley law enforcement. Benefiel, 22, was convicted in 2003 of running one of the largest identity theft rings the area had seen to that point. She stole mail from dozens of residents along Old Stage, Old Military and Sterling Creek roads. Her crimes ran the gamut from forging checks to setting up fraudulent credit accounts and transferring funds using personal financial information obtained from the stolen mail. A mother of a young son and a former nurse's aide with no criminal history until her conviction, Benefiel told Fagan she had abandoned the criminal life, including an addiction to methamphetamine, upon her release from prison. "She's a very intelligent person, which helped her be a better criminal," Fagan said. Medford police said evidence found within the Taylor Street house suggested identity theft had occurred there. Time will tell if Benefiel will face additional charges stemming from the raid. She remained lodged in the Jackson County Jail late Wednesday on two counts of being an ex-felon in possession of a weapon, possession of methamphetamine and a parole violation. Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems California Casinos Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Texas Electric Choice Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews