Woman arrested for alleged "lunch box" meth lab

According to an arrest affidavit, a verbal disturbance between a man and a woman led to a more in-depth investigation into a meth lab, and the arrest of 28 year-old Elnora Marie Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald is accused of helping two other people make meth, and faces 3rd degree felony charges of manufacturing methamphetamine.

The affidavit from law enforcement says, on February 15, two deputies with the Mesa County Sheriff's Office responded to the 400 block of 32 1/8 Road in response to a verbal disturbance call.

The affidavit indicates that when law enforcement arrived, 26 year-old Brian Doyle and his girlfriend were at the residence.  The girlfriend brought a red cloth lunch box, with the Doyle's name written on it, to the deputies.

Deputies say the woman said something along the lines of "he has meth in here".

When questioned, Doyle said he did not know what was in the box, but that the woman was trying to make meth, and that she was the one who put various items in the cooler.

Law enforcement allegedly found several containers with unknown substances inside the cooler, but tests on those were inconclusive.

Both Doyle and his girlfriend were allowed to leave and were not arrested at that time.

Deputies seized the lunch box and returned to the Mesa County Sheriff's Office where they contacted members of the Western Colorado Drug Task Force.

The Task Force followed up, executing a search warrant at that same address.  The woman at that address agreed to go to the Sheriff's Office for an interview.

While there, she admitted knowing Doyle was trying to manufacture meth at her house.  She admitted to knowing the ingredients used in the manufacture were in her kitchen, and also admitted helping her boyfriend buy those ingredients at various stores in the area.

The woman said Doyle asked Fitzgerald to buy supplies for him, and says she overheard a conversation where the boyfriend was instructing Fitzgerald to bring the ingredients to the apartment.

Doyle was contacted by police on February 20th and arrested.

He was advised of his rights and was interviewed by law enforcement. 

During the interview, he admitted trying to manufacture meth on several occasions with both his girlfriend and Fitzgerald, and was with both of them as they gathered numerous ingredients.

Doyle said Fitzgerald had full knowledge of the intent to manufacture meth and was helping he and his girlfriend buy the various ingredients.

Fitzgerald was arrested Tuesday by members of the Western Colorado Drug Task Force. 

After initially trying to minimize her involvement, police say Fitzgerald eventually admitted to having full knowledge the trio were trying to manufacture meth.

She allegedly told police she took Doyle to see her brother to help him with a meth cook he couldn't complete.

Fitzgerald also allegedly admitted to selling a half gram of meth which Doyle had produced.