Two people are in custody and another suspect is being sought in connection with drug sales and the intimidation of a known confidential informant.

Austin police released information today about the arrests, culminating a short investigation.

According to Austin Police Department reports, a 38-year-old Austin man contacted a confidential informant and asked him to sell drugs and to fire bomb the house of a witness in a recent third-degree murder trial.

The offer included having the fire-bombing videotaped, "whether anybody was home or not," according to the report.

The man also asked the confidential informant to tag the house with the word "Narc."

The target of the threat was Amy Lemoine, who testified she was a confidential informant for the Austin Police Department during the investigation into the methamphetamine lab explosion and fire that resulted in the death of James Erick Chilson, 42 of Austin, in January 2001.

Two men were found guilty of third degree murder charges in connection with Chilson's death.

No "gag" order was issued during the trial so the information was made public on local news media outlets.

Acting on information supplied by the new confidential informant, police executed a search warrant at a southeast Austin residence at 11:25 p.m. Tuesday.

The suspect was arrested along with a 34-year-old Austin woman.

A third suspect is being sought.

A 17-year-old female was taken into custody at the residence, questioned and released. Two minor children also at the residence when officers conducted their raid were turned over to the Mower County Department of Human Services.

According to police, the male suspect offered the confidential informant $1,000 to fire bomb Lemoine's house.

The confidential informant bought 5.5 grams of methamphetamine from the suspect, according to police reports. Since the sting began in January, the pair allegedly sold 51.9 grams of methamphetamine to the informant, according to police.

Police confirmed the actions are related to the Jamie Chris Lee Schammel, 22,

criminal trial, surrounding Chilson's death two years ago.

Police also believe the residents were "acting independently" and found no evidence that methamphetamine was being manufactured at the residence.

Lemoine is not in protective custody and police do not believe any other threats exist at this time against her.

The Mower County Attorney's office asked for an extension, which was granted by the Third Judicial District Court today.

Charges against the suspects will be formally filed Friday. Both remain in the Mower County Jail.

Horse thieves sought

DEXTER -- Two horses valued at $12,000 were taken from a rural Dexter pasture Wednesday afternoon.

According to a Mower County Sheriff's Office report, Nicholas Lee Menne reported the horses missing sometime between 1 and 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Trailer tracks in the snow were found leading to the pasture where the horses were kept.

One of the horses is described as a 7-year-old sorrel and white painted gelding with two white sox on the right. That horse is valued at $8,000.

The other horse is described as a 4-year old bay and white with a blue left eye, four white sox and a black tail and mane. That horse is valued at $4,000.

Anyone having information about the horses is asked to call the Mower County Sheriff's Office at 437-9400.