Two arrested for stealing anhydrous, one escapes

By DAWN SLADE
Mille Lacs County Times
Posted 5/15/03

A routine patrol near the anhydrous plant on Highway 23, west of Milaca, led to the arrest of two Pine City residents on Friday, May 9.

Mille Lacs County Deputy Terry Boltjes had previously marked the valves on the anhydrous tanks in order to visibly determine if the tanks had been tampered with or not.

Seeing that one of the tanks had been tampered with, Boltjes drove behind the tanks where he spotted a vehicle that was parked within 100 yards of the tanks.

Boltjes called for backup and was assisted by Minnesota State Trooper Joan Kunz, Mille Lacs County Sergeant Gregg Weller and Milaca Police Officer Kimberly Wood.

Amanda Ann Kretlow, 18, of Pine City was in the vehicle. Kretlow confirmed that two others were on foot in the area, including her boyfriend Jared Phillip Halls, 24, and her brother, who is a juvenile, both of Pine City.

Kretlow admitted to using controlled substances and officers found three packages of Actifed on her.

Anhydrous ammonia and Actifed are used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine (meth).

Inside the vehicle were empty packages of Actifed, pieces of tinfoil, and a scissors with what appeared to be a marijuana joint.

Halls was located by officers as he was walking on Highway 23. He was wearing one shoe and was wet from the waist down.

Halls admitted to using meth and told the officers that someone from Pine City had paid them $1,000 to steal the ammonia. He confirmed that Kretlow¹s brother was with them.

But, the juvenile escaped on foot.

Boltjes also located a 20-pound propane tank with an altered valve behind the anhydrous tanks. He determined that at least one anhydrous tank had been tampered with and a plastic hose was found lying under the tank valves.

Kretlow and Halls have both been charged with conspiracy to commit unlawful containment, tampering, theft or transport of anhydrous ammonia, which carries a maximum penalty of 17 months in prison and/or a $25,000 fine.

They have also been charged with aiding and abetting which carries the same maximum penalty.

Kretlow was also charged on Tuesday, May 13 with fifth degree felony possession of a controlled substance, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

Both are currently in the Mille Lacs County Jail. Bail has been set at $3,000.