South Strabane police charge two women for having a meth lab in car in Walmart lot
Two women were arraigned Tuesday on drug charges filed by South Strabane Township police after they allegedly had a methamphetamine lab inside a vehicle parked in the lot at Walmart, Trinity Point, last October.
Jody R. Bogol, 41, who is in the Washington County jail, and Eva S. Kovach, 38, of 703 Woodlawn Ave., West Brownsville, were arraigned before District Judge Jay Weller on charges of possession of a controlled substance and liquefied ammonia gas and chemicals, operating a meth lab and illegal dumping of meth waste, possession of drug paraphernalia, causing or risking a catastrophe and retail theft.
Police were called Oct. 13 for a report of a suspicious vehicle with people inside allegedly doing drugs. The caller told a dispatcher the people were in a white Toyota Celica.
When police arrived, the officer found the car registered to Kovach. Inside the car were a large number of bags and merchandise, according to police. Bogol and Kovach were found inside the store. Their shopping cart had a large amount of merchandise with tags, packaging and security tags removed, police said. Bogol reportedly had a tool to remove the tags and devices.
Kovach reportedly gave police permission to search her vehicle. In the trunk of the car, police said they found equipment for “one pot” manufacturing of meth. The state police Clandestine Laboratory Response Team took the car and the substance. Police also said they found Suboxone and merchandise suspected to be stolen from stores.
Police learned Bogol was wanted on a warrant stemming from theft charges filed by police in Redstone Township, Fayette County. She was released to that department.
Weller set bond on Bogol at $25,000. Kovach was released on $25,000 unsecured bond. Both are set for an Oct. 10 preliminary hearing before Weller.