Quincy man arrested while hiding out at Adams Co. campground

2 months, 2 weeks ago

Rodney Belden was arrested at Whispering Oaks late Monday night

A Quincy man was arrested hiding out at Whispering Oaks Campground near Mendon late Monday night.

West Central Illinois Task Force M/Sgt. Patrick Frazier says Rodney L. Belden, 44, was located in a camper on the grounds. Belden was taken into custody without incident.

Belden was wanted on an Adams County warrant charging him with Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Precursors. The precursor charges stem from Belden purchasing pseudoephedrine after receiving a conviction under the 2005 Methamphetamine Control Act. Belden was found to be in possession of a shake and bake methamphetamine laboratory when agents searched the camper.

Belden also has a pending charge of Aggravated Unlawful Participation in Methamphetamine Production, after a search warrant was served at Belden's residence, 623 Oak in Quincy on February 6th. A shake and bake laboratory was seized during the February search of his residence. Belden's wife, Melissa L. Belden, 44, is currently out on bond on Aggravated Unlawful Participation in Methamphetamine Production from the Oak Street search.

Adams County records indicate that Rodney Belden had two methamphetamine cases in 2005. He received a sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections of 3 years on one case and 6 months on the second. Rodney Beldon was arrested again in 2008 for Methamphetamine Manufacture and pled to Unlawful Possession of Meth. He was given 30 months of Intensive Probation-Drug Court on the 2008 case.

The West Central Illinois Task Force was assisted in the investigation by the US Marshall's Violent Fugitive Task Force, the Adams County Sheriffs Office, and the Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Team.

All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.