DEPUTIES PREDICT BUSY YEAR OF RAIDS

Fifth Bust Of 07 Yields Two Arrests

A large methamphetamine lab was discovered in a quiet Merritt Island
neighborhood Monday afternoon in the fifth meth raid of the year,
according to Brevard County Sheriff's Office.

The lab, found at 529 Seacrest Ave., was hidden in a 200-square-foot
shed about 15 feet from the home. Deputies arrived at the property
with a search warrant at about 4 p.m. Monday and encountered a
large-scale production, capable of creating many ounces of
methamphetamine, said Sgt. J.J. Woolsey, head of the special
investigations unit.

Deputies were alerted by an anonymous complaint.

"Most labs are set up for personal use, but the things we found in
the investigation indicate that this meth was for sale," Woolsey said.

David Mark Hahn, 34, and Erika Shea Rodamer, 34, were arrested in
connection to the methamphetamine bust.

They are charged with manufacturing and trafficking methamphetamine,
as well as possession of illicit chemicals. Bond has not been set.

Rodamer's 9-year-old daughter was taken from the residence and placed
with the state Department of Children and Families.

Seacrest Avenue runs through a tranquil neighborhood east of
Courtenay Parkway, with older homes on the west side of the street
and newer rental properties to the east. Many children play in the
yards and along the street of about 30 homes.

Beth Molina, who has lived on Seacrest for nearly 40 years, said
there's never been such a large crime in the neighborhood.

"I'm shocked. There were no signs, at least not blatant ones," Molina
said. "But we have a good Neighborhood Watch and people look out for
one another, so word got around quick."

More of Brevard County's quiet neighborhoods could be affected in the
sheriff's office's heightened crackdown on methamphetamine. With five
raids in January, Woolsey said the year is "going to be busy."

Methamphetamine is an addictive and dangerous stimulant. The labs,
often filled with fertilizers, fuels and other chemicals, are prone
to explosions.

On Jan 12, an elaborate lab was dismantled in Port St. John at 1080
Barclay Drive. Two arrests were made in the raid and investigators
said the lab was one of the more sophisticated the sheriff's office
had encountered.

The lab found on Merritt Island Monday was comparable to the one in
Port St. John, Woosley said.

Just 12 hours after the raid in Port St. John, another lab was found
at the York Inn in West Melbourne.

On Jan. 25, yet another was taken down in a Titusville condominium complex.

Woolsey estimated about 25 illegal labs were found in Brevard County in 2006.

Woolsey said the increase could be attributed to an increase in
methamphetamine use, as well as a more educated public who reports the problem.

The Sheriff's Office has teamed with Brevard County Fire-Rescue to
fight methamphetamine labs and increase public awareness, he added.