Police: Man Nabbed For Making Meth Five Months After Lab Explosion Burned Woman
Dale Lenze Sr. is accused of attempting to make meth and possessing meth
A St. Charles County man faces a second methamphetamine charge about five months after a meth lab exploded on his property near Wentzville, burning a woman and setting fire to his barn.
Dale Lenze Sr., 53, was charged Jan. 31 with attempt to manufacture a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
A St. Charles County Sheriff’s deputy accompanied a Social Services employee to check on the welfare of children living in a home in the 2800 block of Essex Street in St. Charles County near St. Charles.
Inside the home, the deputy smelled a strong chemical odor and spotted several ingredients commonly used to cook meth. He alerted the St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force, which sent a detective to assist the deputy.
Two of Lenze’s sons, ages 19 and 21, consented to a search of the house, according to court documents. One of them told officers that Lenze Sr. lived in the basement, but was not home at the time.
The Drug Task Force detective said he found several chemicals and items used to make meth, including empty pseudoephedrine packets.
Lenze drove up during the search, and when Lenze opened his car door, the detective smelled an overwhelming chemical odor coming from inside the car. He saw a container of fuel and a glass jar with used paper filters inside the car. He also found a vial of white powder.
Lenze told him it was meth, and said, “I want to work with you guys,” according to the police report.
Lenze is being held in St. Charles County jail in lieu of a $40,000, cash only bond.
For more crime information on St. Charles Patch, see the following articles:
- Fighting Couple Brings Officers to Motel Meth Lab, Police Say
- Woman Charged After Having Multiple Meth Labs in Home with Three Children
- Mother, Son, Daughter Charged with Making Meth in St. Charles
jade lenze
7:46 am on Monday, February 11, 2013
Just for the record- he was NOT cooking in that house.. And we never gave them consent to search the house.
The Missourian
8:10 am on Monday, February 11, 2013
Where do these meth hillbillies come from and what makes them think this is any kind of way to behave?
Sandy K
4:15 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
Well he must have been cooking somewhere! There is no room for a human being to doing activities that can and does harm others. Get a real job!
LuLu
11:57 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
Who cares if you consented or not? Its people like this that are polluting our world even more. Meth is horrible. Anyone in that house could have died had something gone wrong. Not to mention all the chemicals in the air, can cause severe health issues to anyone exposed. I hope he rots in prison.
E4R
5:47 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
SMELL's like a RAT. If pressured to do something that's against the law, who is the guilty one? Check your self!
- Mr. Lenze is not only a family loving father, and great friend. He is also a MARINE. his sacrifice to allow are freedom should be recognized. Who are we to judge. Thank you for all that you do Dale.
sgmeyer
6:30 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Are you serious??? Because he WAS a marine, and did the right thing at one time...DOES NOT GIVE HIM THE RIGHT TO BREAK LAWS AND HAVE/MAKE ILLEGAL DRUGS!!!!
and for the record...at no point in that article, was anything mentioned about him being a bad dad or friend..BUT if he was such a great caring dad and friend...would he really still have that shit in his house with his kids after it blew up and injured his other friend.?????? Maybe you need a better discription of the words good and friend. WOW.
M Brock
9:33 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
It's great that he is a Marine but that doesn't help this matter in the least. Anyone can be an addict, whether its a member of the armed forces or a doctor prescribing medication. There are lots of good people that get caught up in drugs and it ruins their lives and those around them. He obviously endangered the lives of those around him not to mention innocent people driving next to him while high on meth. Scary that anyone would think he's above judgement. Do the crime - do the time!
Donnie white
8:18 am on Thursday, February 14, 2013
To all those good friends of dales, you might want to think about who you call friend. Sounds like my ol buddy dale has a job now. Drug task force. Haha I'm loving it
jade lenze
8:24 am on Friday, February 15, 2013
Hey "Uncle" Don, i didnt know you where out of prision??
amanda
6:32 am on Monday, April 8, 2013
I just do not believe that dale would be a snitch no how, no way. But ya know after doing this for so many years and getting in so much trouble for it, maybe he will do just that. And all of those making it, doing it, need to be set up and put away anyway. But then again, Why they would say that he "wanted to work with you guys" and put it in the freaking newspaper so all can see?? doesn't make sense either. I just don't see why they would want the world to know he is a snitch if that in fact is the case. Doesn't make a bit of sense to me.I just don't see how that could benefit them (piggy pies) at all. And so what if he is, these people at 40-50yrs old should put it up, be grown adults. I wish the best for dale and his family. He really is a good guy and has done all he can for his family. I hope he does snitch so maybe he can get a lighter sentence and get out, continue to raise his family and do it the clean way. These other people with comments besides Donnie, we obviously know he still doing the shit by his comments.....Goodluck Dale and especially to his wife, and their four children. I came from texas to visit you all about 4-5 yrs ago.. Don't know if the kids remember me but I know their mother does! Get a hold of me, my email is jmarkscompany@yahoo.com.I love and miss all of you guys and it was a joy to see all of you children so grown! I used to babysit the two oldest boys back when they were babies!! Please email me and give me a heads up! I am on your side. Mandy
Marianne Mangrum
9:29 am on Friday, April 26, 2013
Meth is bad!! Dont know why anyone would make excuses for anyone who cooks it??Defend bad behavior, more bad behavior are the results!!
Joe Scott
8:33 pm on Sunday, May 5, 2013
Several comments have been removed. Let's stick to the terms of service, watch the language and no accusations of criminal activity unless there have been charges brought.