Meth lab found at apartment complex

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Inventorying an alleged meth lab found in a residence at Buckingham Apartments Tuesday are McMinnville Police investigators, from left, Tony Jenkins, Mike Vann and Nicole Mosley. (Charles W. Johnson photo)

The arrest of a shoplifting suspect led to the discovery of an alleged methamphetamine lab Tuesday afternoon at Buckingham Apartments.

The suspect, Eddie D. Sullivan Jr., 22, is charged with manufacture of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia, theft, evading arrest and assault on an officer. He is being held under $63,000 bond at Warren County Jail.

According to McMinnville Police Capt. Bryan Denton, the arrest was made when investigators Tony Jenkins and Mike Vann went to Sullivan’s mother’s apartment Tuesday to make an arrest on the shoplifting case. Lawmen say Sullivan was wanted for stealing items commonly used in the production of meth.

Jenkins said he found Sullivan inside a bedroom in the apartment, holding a syringe believed to contain meth. Officers suspect he was going to try to shoot up the meth before he was caught with it. Sullivan was made to drop the syringe, with the liquid still inside, and was escorted to a front room of the apartment for reading of the warrants against him. It was during the reading Sullivan reportedly made a dash for the door. He was tackled by officers before he could make it to freedom and subdued following a short fight.

A subsequent search netted numerous items used in the production of meth. Sullivan later admitted he had recently made some of the drug, noting it was for his own use. He said he snuck the supplies into the apartment while his mother was asleep.

The apartment complex where the lab was found is a densely populated area, surrounded on every side by other connected dwellings.