Two Inverness brothers arrested in meth lab bust

A pair of Inverness brothers on Sunday were arrested by Citrus County deputies for allegedly operating a meth lab inside their grandmother's home.

Arrested on Sunday were John Dylan Gromling, 19, and James Gromling, 24, both of whom list 121 N. West Ave., Inverness, as their address.

According to their arrest reports, the CCSO was dispatched to the suspects' grandmother's home after it was reported that a trash can in the home and another in a travel trailer in the back yard were on fire.

Deputies on scene determined the fire in the smoking trash can inside the residence smelled of methamphetamine. Deputies found a smoking book bag inside the can and which contained chemicals inside. Also in the trash can were four one-pot meth cooks, a can of camping fuel, used coffee filters, homemade funnels, Sudafed boxes and lithium battery casings.

No fire was found inside the travel trailer in the back yard of the home. However, deputies found lab components, to include Red Devil Lie, ammonia nitrate, lithium batteries, gloves and Liquid Fire. Also found was chemical, which had been spilled on the floor and on the toilet.

Deputies also discovered that there was evidence of a fire, and that the suspects attempted to put the fire out by filling the toilet with sand, the arrest report said.

The grandmother later told deputies she saw John Gromling tote a box containing all of the manufacturing items into her home. A witness said that they saw both brothers "burping a bottle" for about 20 minutes.

After further investigation, an alert was issued for the two brothers, who were later located arrested and taken to the county jail. John Gromling was interviewed there, and told of his involvement in the manufacture of meth, and advised that his brother, James, had been manufacturing meth in the camper trailer for about one and one-half to two months.

John also said that he and his brother had planned to run from charges lodged against them and attempt to make it to Georgia.

James Gromling was not interviewed, although the arrest report said he was somewhat communicative. He wanted to know how deputies were able to get permission to go inside his grandmother's residence, then said he it didn't matter since, he said, he is looking at 15 yers in jail, and that he had nothing to lose.

Both brothers were charged with manufacturing meth. Bond details were not shown on either arrest report.