An investigation by the Lehigh County Drug Task Force has resulted in the arrest of two Emmaus residents now charged with manufacturing methamphetamine in their house, according to a press release distributed June 4 by the Lehigh County District Attorney's office.

Ralph E. Merwarth, 60, and Susan Louise Miller, 44, both of 737 Donald Drive, were charged June 4 after a search warrant was executed at their residence 6:05 a.m. the same day.

Merwarth and Miller were arraigned in the Lehigh County Central Booking Center.

The defendants are charged with one count each of manufacturing a controlled substance, a felony; possession of a controlled substance and possession of pseudoephedrine for the manufacturing of methamphetamine, both misdemeanors and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Merwarth and Miller also are charged with three felony counts of having liquefied ammonia, gas, precursors and chemicals.

Howard Obertubbesing, 54, who was living at the house, was arrested on a bench warrant from Snyder County.

The Lehigh County Drug Task Force was assisted by the Emmaus Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania National Guard Counter Drug Unit.

An affidavit of probable cause alleges:

Over the last several months, an investigation was conducted after law enforcement officials learned Merwarth and Miller were buying quantities of Sudafed, an over-the-counter decongestant medication, for the past year.

Sudafed is commonly used to manufacture methamphetamine.

When the search warrant was executed, Merwarth was found in the basement of the house and Miller and Obertubbesing were in the kitchen.

Detectives found a suspected bag of methamphetamine in one of Merwarth's pockets.

A subsequent search was conducted by members of the Pennsylvania State Police Clandestine Emergency Response Team and a non-operational functional methamphetamine laboratory was discovered in the residence.

A non-operational functional methamphetamine laboratory is one that has produced methamphetamine but was not in the active process of cooking the drug.

Authorities also found suspected methamphetamine, red phosphorous, iodine, pseudoephedrine, digital scales, baggies, razor blades, acetone, muriatic acid, drain cleaner, needles, Sudafed blister packs, match box strikers, stained coffee filters, a blender with white residue, a coffee pot with red residue, four hot plates, dishes with residue, one APR mask and a pair of stained gloves. Authorities said all of the listed items are used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

As in every criminal case, the fact an arrest has occurred or a complaint is filed is merely an accusation. The defendants, Ralph E. Merwarth and Susan Louise Miller, are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.