UPDATE: Task Force Commends Teacher, Officer in Meth Bust

Members of Stow's Safety Task Force, charged with making security recommendations in light of the Sandy Hook shootings, took a moment Thursday to credit a Stow teacher and police officer for helping uncover a meth lab this week.

Stow police, along with the Summit County Drug Unit, uncovered a meth lab Tuesday after a tip came anonymously from a caller who informed a Kimpton Middle School employee that a Stow student might be living in a meth house.  

School administrators determined the tip was in reference to the 12-year-old who lived at the home in question, and it was then Lakeview staff that informed police of the alleged drug activity.

Stow-Munroe Falls Schools Superintendent Russell Jones said school administrator's took the teacher's tip to the school's Stow Police resource officer, who started an investigation into the child's well-being and surroundings.

"It's a perfect example of one of the advantages of having an officer in the building," Jones said Thursday. "Some kids are safer today. (In) the absence of the officer, that may or may not have happened."

Police searched the child’s residence — located at 1842 Lillian Rd. — and found components used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

The parents, Jason Little, 37, and Brandi Little, 28, of Stow, were arrested, charged with multiple felonies and taken to Summit County Jail, according to Stow Police Chief Louis Dirker. And five children — ages 2, 8, 9, 11 and 12 — were removed from the house and taken in by Summit County Children’s Services.

Munroe Falls Mayor Frank Larson commended the teacher and officer for their awareness and response.

“It’s not just the shootings," Larson said. "It’s other things that are more subtle. We have a tendency to look at just the obvious."

Editor's note: this article was updated with a clarification on how the meth lab was uncovered at 8:55 a.m. Feb. 22, 2013.