Two people were arrested in Missoula this week on a host of charges that include identity theft, forgery and manufacture of methamphetamine. Some of the charges stem from incidents in Kalispell.

The U.S. Secret Service, Missoula and Kalispell police departments, and the local Northwest Drug Task Force were involved in the investigation.

Arrested early Wednesday morning were Perry Willingham, 39, and Rose Brock-Davis, 35. They are from Sweet Home, Ore., where they fled after a raid on their meth lab, according to detective Sgt. Brian Fulford of the Kalispell Police Department.

They were reportedly in Kalispell as recently as Monday or Tuesday, staying at a motel, Fulford said. Evidence exists that the couple manufactured methamphetamine in motel rooms in Kalispell and Missoula, he said.

They were arrested at a Missoula motel after a tip that they were creating false identification documents and manufacturing checks there.

Fulford said they are suspected of counterfeiting identities or checks from people in Montana, Utah, Oregon, New Jersey, Delaware, Missouri and Washington.

The identities were used in part to avoid detection, Fulford said.

"People are beginning to see the link between drug dealing and identity theft," he said.

Typically, identity thieves steal information that victims unwittingly put out with their garbage, from vehicles, and from mailboxes. He said that might not have been the case with Willingham and Brock-Davis, but it is the most common way for thieves to gather Social Security numbers and other personal information.

"People need to realize what a serious problem identity theft is in this country," he said.

Willingham and Brock-Davis likely will be returned to Oregon after they have gone through the justice system in Montana, he said.

"They're in a heap of trouble."