Suspicious activity leads to arrest on meth charges

Residents who noticed an unusual amount of vehicles coming and going from a Franklin home alerted police to the suspicious activity, which led to the eventual arrest of a large-scale meth dealer, police said.

Raymond “Squirrel” Lebo, 46, of 133 Pratt St., Franklin, was arrested on three felony charges of dealing methamphetamine, one charge of dealing a schedule controlled substance and a charge of maintaining a common nuisance on Monday.

Police found more than two ounces of meth worth more than $6,000, scales, baggies, pipes, suspected stolen items and $900 in suspected drug money in his home, according to a news release from the Franklin Police Department.

Franklin police, with help from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, searched the home on Pratt Street on Monday after getting a search warrant, the news release said.

The undercover investigation had been going on for about a month, Franklin police deputy chief Chris Tennell said.

Police are crediting residents who called the police department’s tip line to report suspicious activity with getting the investigation started. They encourage the public to report suspicious behavior, and let police launch an investigation into possible drug dealing, Tennell said.

Lebo was not manufacturing the methamphetamine. Rather, he was purchasing the drug and selling it, police said. The investigation is ongoing.

A woman who was at the home was arrested on a charge of visiting a common nuisance. Linda Ann Kelly, 44, of 835 S. Old U.S. 31, Lot 70, Franklin, was released on $2,000 bond.

Lebo was held at the jail on $32,200 bond.

Police encourage residents to report suspicious activity or suspected drug dealing to the anonymous tip line at 317-346-1100.