Pubdate: Thu, 09 Sep 2010
Source: Kansas City Star (MO)
Copyright: 2010 The Kansas City Star
Contact:  http://www.kansascity.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/221

KC POLICE DISPATCHED TO HOMELESS CAMP FIND METH LAB IN TENT

Kansas City police officers went into a wooded area near Independence
Avenue and the Paseo on Wednesday to talk to people at a homeless camp
about thefts from a nearby construction site.

But after wading into the woods, the officers found a different
problem: a fully stocked methamphetamine lab in a tent not far from
the homeless camp.

Police recovered bottles, tubes, pills, chemicals and at least 90
grams of methamphetamine from the unoccupied tent, which was about 30
yards from the camp, said Sgt. Tim Witcig.

Police don't know if the people running the meth tent were homeless.
The tent may have been placed in the woods by someone who didn't want
to manufacture the drug in their vehicle or home, Witcig said. Police
were investigating who set up the tent.

Though unusual, it wasn't the first time police had found a meth lab
in the woods, Witcig said.

The lab found Wednesday was in woods near a construction area for a
northbound ramp to Interstate 35. Witcig said construction workers had
complained that lumber and supplies were missing from the site and
that homeless people were using their portable restrooms. If
construction workers locked the restrooms overnight, the restrooms
would get knocked over, Witcig said.

The workers told police they started leaving the restrooms unlocked
but wanted officers to talk to the homeless people about the thefts.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D