NORWICH – Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016 saw the city’s largest meth bust to date. Two arrests were made that day, and it was reported that another person of interest had fled the scene. Authorities now say that third individual has been arrested.
Christopher A. Bonno, 26, Norwich, was arrested by the Norwich Police Department Tuesday, March 22 on an active bench warrant.
Police said that during the course of the initial investigation in February, numerous ‘One-Pot’ methamphetamine cooking containers were located inside the Prospect Stree residence, along with chemicals, accelerants and byproducts. The Norwich Police requested the assistance of the New York State Police – CCSERT (Contaminated Crime Scene Emergency Response Team) and the Norwich Fire Department at the scene. All of the involved agencies remained on the scene for several hours while the chemicals, containers and evidence were collected.
Authorities did not confirm how many one-pots were recovered, but Police Chief Rodney Marsh said following the initial arrests that there were “multiple” and said it was the largest to date within the city limits.
At the time of the initial arrest of two of the accused, Detective Mike Purdy with the NPD said, “This isn’t a known house. The problem with meth is that it can pop up anywhere, and the people manufacturing it are usually using it.”
Bonno was charged with unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine in the third degree, a class D felony.
This charge alleges that Bonno possessed, with intent to use – or knowing that another intended to use such product – to unlawfully manufacture, prepare or produce methamphetamine, and further alleges that he was in possession of one item of laboratory equipment and three or more precursors, chemical reagents or solvents in any combination.
Bonno was arraigned Tuesday and was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility in lieu of $15,000 cash bail or $30,000 bond.
Bonno is presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.