3 Arrested in Lancaster Meth Investigation

Three people were arrested in Lancaster this week on suspicion of drug possession and sale in an investigation that resulted from three other raids there last week.

Jesse Chapman, 22, and Sherri Mitchell, 23, both of Lancaster, and Donald Looper, 31, listed as a transient, were arrested Tuesday night for their alleged involvement with a large quantity of methamphetamine found at Mitchell’s residence in the 1400 block of Jenner Street, sheriff’s deputies said.

Four ounces of methamphetamine in crystal form and two liters of clear liquid--thought to be uncrystallized methamphetamine--were found at the home, said Lt. Ron Shreves of the sheriff’s Lancaster detective bureau.

Deputies were led to the Jenner Street home following raids last week at three other Lancaster locations where 73 firearms and explosives were seized and two alleged members of the Nazi Lowriders gang were arrested, Shreves said.

Chapman, who deputies said is also a member of the Nazi Lowriders gang, is being held in lieu of $30,000 bail at the Lancaster sheriff’s station on suspicion of possession of controlled substance for sale. He also had an outstanding warrant for a similar charge.

Looper is being held without bail at the Lancaster station on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and an outstanding vehicle theft warrant.

Both will be arraigned today in Lancaster Superior Court, deputies said.

Mitchell was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance for sale, Shreves said. She posted bail early Wednesday and has an April 24 court date.

Even though last week’s weapons investigation led to Tuesday’s drug-related arrests, Shreves said he doesn’t believe the cases are related.

“There’s nothing here relating to white supremacy,” Shreves said of the Jenner Street address. “Our investigation [of the residence] had nothing to do with hate crimes. We have not uncovered any kind of conspiracy.”