Couple Stuck in Snow Arrested on Drug Charges

If you're going to haul anhydrous ammonia around in your van, you may want to make sure that you don't get stuck in the snow. What's the big deal about anhydrous ammonia? It's often used to make crystal meth, and apparently transporting it--if you're not a farmer using it to fertilize crops--is against the law. Bobby Joe Witt, 34, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa (in great mug shot, right) likely knew that when his 1994 Chrysler van got stuck in the snow in a rural area near Vinton, Iowa. Which could explain why he and the female companion in his vehicle took off after a farmer helped pull them out of deep snow this week. Here's more from the WCF Courier:

The vehicle, a 1994 Chrysler van, was pulled out of the snow by a farmer. The deputy asked the driver of the van for their driver’s license, and the driver sped off turning east on Highway 30 driving 100 mph. The driver of the van refused to stop and turned south on Highway 151. The deputy saw the passenger throw a duffle bag from the van, the bag was leaking anhydrous ammonia. The van continued into Fairfax, where the passenger allegedly threw out a cooler. At that point the deputies vehicle became stuck in the snow. The van was spotted later when returning for the cooler. When confronted by a deputy, the van drove east toward Cedar Rapids. The van eventually was stopped by a Iowa State Trooper with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office assisting. Lucynda Jo Manternach age 36 from Mechanicsville, a passenger in the van was charged with possession of anhydrous ammonia with the intent to manufacture a controlled substance, a class D Felony.
The driver of the van Bobby Joe Witt age 34 from Cedar Rapids, was charged with attempting to elude while participating in a felony, a class D Felony; possession of anhydrous ammonia with the intent to manufacture a controlled substance, a class D Felony; transporting anhydrous ammonia, a serious misdemeanor.