Two men arrested during narcotics search

Two men were arrested Friday and further charges and arrests are pending following the search of an apartment on Johnson Ave. in Orofino, according to Orofino Police Chief Ron Pomerinke.

OPD working jointly with Lewiston Police Department and Idaho Probation and Parole, served a search warrant at 817 Johnson Apt. 4. Items recovered during the search included methamphetamine personal use items and precursor items for methamphetamine (cold/allergy pills containing sudaphedrine that had been bought and stolen in Lewiston then processed or condensed to pure sudaphedrine which was to be taken to Idaho County and "cooked" into methamphetamine), Pomerinke said. Agencies assisting in the search included Clearwater County Sheriff's Department and Idaho State Police Investigations.

Kraig Burch, 44, was arrested and charged initially with felony conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and Nicholas Lauby, 18, was arrested and charged initially with felony conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and misdemeanor frequenting a place where drugs are used. Further arrests are pending, Pomerinke said.

Orofino Fire Department and Clearwater County Ambulance Service were put on stand by during the search in case there was a methamphetamine lab in the apartment and they were needed.

Pomerinke said that events leading to the search warrant included Lewiston Police Department identifying two of three subjects purchasing sudaphedrin and notifying them. OPD watched the subject's vehicle as it came back to Orofino.