Wayland Township Supervisor charged with operating meth lab

A West Michigan elected official and his wife have been charged with running a drug lab out of their home.

Randy Marklevitz, the Wayland Township Supervisor, has been arraigned on charges of producing and possessing methamphetamine. His wife Theresa Marklevitz, faces similar charges.

At the couple's quiet horse farm along 131st Avenue in Wayland Township, the signs clearly state that trespassers are not welcome. State police say however, friends of the Marklevitz's were allowed in, and brought ingredients to help the couple make meth. Prosecutors have charged the husband and wife with operating a meth lab and possessing the drug. It's an investigation that started back in October.

"We just figured nothing would come of it," says Wayland Township Trustee Pat Staley. Staley says she's having a hard time believing Marklevitz could have been on meth while running the local government. But that's what police claim, that the drug operation was created so the Marklevitz's and their friends could do the drug.

"It is kind of scary that somebody could be on it and we couldn't tell. He ran it well, and hopefully they'll find he wasn't doing it, we don't know," Staley says.

Police say they were tipped off about the lab but wouldn't elaborate on details. Authorities knocked on the door in October, and say Theresa Marklevitz voluntarily let them in.

That's when they seized drugs and lab equipment like beakers and chemicals.

"We could smell it in the air," says neighbor Audrey Radlinski. She says if this is true, it is a continuing indication of how big an issue methamphetamine is in Allegan County. Radlinski says if in fact the township supervisor can be running a drug lab, no on is immune from meth's destructive reach.

"It's a huge problem and kids are doing it in High School now, it's ridiculous."

Police could not say how long they thought the Marklevitz's were running the lab. Authorities are surprised that meth production was going on in this type of neighborhood, they say it usually happens in more rural areas, and in run down homes or campers. The Marklevitz's are out of jail on bail. Township Trustee Pat Staley says back in October when they found out about the investigation, Marklevitz said if he was charged, he would step down temporarily. There is no word yet on if that will happen.