A 15-year-old Sioux Falls girl turns in her own mother in the latest meth lab bust. The bust happened Friday afternoon on the 1500 block of West 12th Street.
34-year-old Tammara King and 41-year-old Eric Lee Johnson were arrested on several drug charges, including maintaining a place where drugs are kept and possession of drugs in a drug-free zone. Five of King's children are in protective custody and prosecutors say the 15 year old was concerned for the safety of her siblings.
King and Johnson walked to court Tuesday afternoon facing numerous drug and child abuse charges.
Police say the two were making and distributing meth out of a house on West 12th Street.
"Meth is a bad thing; a real bad thing by itself," neighbor Marty Gallanter said.
Gallanter has lived next door for two years, but never saw or heard anything unusual.
Don Jorgensen: Does it surprise you?
Gallanter: It surprises me a lot. Just had absolutely no idea anything was going on over there. You know chat with the family once in awhile over the fence when you're out in the yard, but that's the extent of the friendship.
Prosecutors say police were tipped off after the 15 year old went to Lincoln High School on Friday and told someone she was concerned for the other kids because she believed her mom and Johnson were making meth.
Authorities say there were at least five children living in the home ranging in age from four to 15 years old.
When police searched the house, they say they found a small amount of meth and equipment used to make the drug.
A background check on one of the suspects found Johnson has long criminal history involving drugs; he even spent time in prison.
Even though Gallanter didn't know the family very well, he's concerned for the children.
"I just hope they're all healthy, just hope it hasn't contaminated them that's all. Seemed like nice enough children," Gallanter said.
During Tuesday's court appearance, the judge said both Johnson and King are a danger to the community and set bail at $10,000 bond.
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