Police arrest Farmington man on outstanding warrant

A Farmington man faces multiple drug charges following his arrest Sept. 23 on possession of illegal substances and a felony warrant.

Police arrested Charles Rion, 41, on a warrant stemming from an earlier charge of possession of methamphetamine. Bond was set at $15,000.

Rion was reportedly located after an alert drug enforcement agent with the Farmington Police Department recognized him on surveillance footage purchasing meth precursors — products used in the manufacture of methamphetamine — from area merchants.

The drug agent went to a known address for Rion and knocked on the door. He requested permission to enter the home and was denied consent by a person at the address. The officer went back to the police station and began the process of procuring a search warrant for the home based on evidence already available.

A warrant was issued by a judge and the drug officer, accompanied by other Farmington police officers, returned to the home. This time they entered the home and found an operating meth lab. Assisted by members of the Mineral Area Drug Task Force, the lab was dismantled and evidence seized for further testing.

Rion was arrested on the active warrant. He was also booked on counts of manufacturing methamphetamine, trafficking, possession of paraphernalia with intent to make methamphetamine, and a misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana.

He was taken to the St. Francois County Jail.