NEW HAVEN — A series of purchases at the Dollar General store in New Haven led to the arrest of a Letart woman suspected of attempting to make meth.

On Monday, April E. Craft, 18, was arrested and charged with attempting to operate a clandestine lab by New Haven Police Chief David L. Hardwick. Craft appeared before Mason County Magistrate Cheryl Miller Ross who set her bond at $100,000.

According to the criminal complaint filed in Mason County Magistrate Court, a cashier at Dollar General reported to police a young lady was in the store, acting “very strange” and making separate purchases on the same day. These purchases allegedly included a cold compress, a package of lithium batteries and a large Powerade sports drink. After these purchases, the young woman later identified as Craft, got into a Ford Ranger. The cashier reported the vehicle’s description to Hardwick who later pulled it over from W.Va. 62, stating the pickup went left-of-center several times. The traffic stop occurred just past Oak and Walnut streets.

Craft was the passenger in the vehicle and upon questioning by Hardwick about her behavior in Dollar General and the items sitting in shopping bags in the truck, Craft allegedly confessed she made the purchases with the intention of making meth, according to the complaint. At this point, it should be noted Craft has not had a preliminary hearing nor has she entered a formal plea to her charge.

Items found in the truck allegedly included lighter fluid, cold compress, lithium batteries, Sudafed.

Craft remained housed at the Western Regional Jail as of press time on Tuesday.

As previously reported, two arrests involving the alleged manufacture of meth also occurred Feb. 14 and Feb. 15, one in Mason and one in Southside.