Pubdate: Sat, 19 Apr 2014
Source: Chronicle, The (OH)
Copyright: 2014 Chronicle-Telegram
Contact: http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/forms/letters-to-the-editor-form/
Website: http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4363
Author: Brad Dicken
Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our editors
may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who have not been
convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise public figures or
officials.

POSSIBLE METH LAB FOUND IN $1M HOME

SHEFFIELD LAKE - The Lorain County Drug Task Force found what police
believe to be an under-construction methamphetamine lab in an East
Lake Road home that was purchase for $1.125 million last year.

[name redacted], one of the owners of [address redacted], was arrested
Wednesday at the house.

Detective Olen Martin said the Drug Task Force has been investigating
suspicious activity at the house since August, but new information
came to light this week that led officers to go there.

Martin said [name redacted] was in the driveway when police arrived
and invited them into his house. Once inside, he said, they sat at the
kitchen table and [name redacted] gave them permission to conduct a
search.

Officers found chemicals and equipment consistent with building a meth
lab and then obtained a search warrant before continuing the search,
Martin said. While there was meth in the house, it didn't necessarily
come from the lab, which wasn't finished yet.

"It was not to the point where I would say it was a fully functioning
lab yet," Martin said.

After investigators, who wore protective gear because of the risk of
exposure to hazardous materials, found the items, [name redacted] was
taken into custody on charges of illegal assembly or possession of
chemicals for the manufacture of drugs and permitting drug abuse.

Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation investigator Dave Posten said
the equipment seized from [name redacted]'s house was evidence of a
sophisticated meth lab that has become increasingly rare in the United
States. He said the lab used the "Thionyl/Chloride Method" of cooking
meth, the first time such a lab has been found in Ohio.

"This process requires sophisticated equipment, chemicals and the
ability to use the lab to manufacture meth," a news release on the
arrest said.

The far more popular method for cooking meth is known as the "one pot"
or "shake and bake" method, which relies on plastic beverage bottles
and common household items like drain cleaner, lithium batteries and
camping fuel. That method is considered easier to cook with, although
Martin said the quality of the meth likely wouldn't have been as good
as what the "Thionyl/Chloride Method" would produce.

Police also found three semiautomatic pistols and 11 rifles and
shotguns, including a .223-caliber Bushmaster assault rifle with a
loaded magazine, during the search of [name redacted]'s home. A large
amount of ammunition also was confiscated.

Martin said although police are checking on the guns, they have no
reason to believe that [name redacted] wouldn't legally have been
allowed to possess the weapons and ammunition.

In addition to the Drug Task Force, specially-trained Lorain police
narcotics officers and BCI agents were called in to help clear out the
lab. Meth labs are considered extremely dangerous because of chemical
fumes and fire danger.

Sheffield Lake police and fire departments assisted during Wednesday's
raid.

This is the second meth lab the Drug Task Force and other law
enforcement agencies have found in the county this month. Lorain
police found a large meth lab using the "one pot" method on West
Seventh Court on April 9. Police said that case remains under
investigation.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D