Chemical smell leads to search, meth arrest
A chemical smell strong enough to bring tears to the eyes of police officers Thursday led to the bust of a Mullican Street man on methamphetamine charges.
The suspect, Harold W. Herriman Jr., 25, was arrested and charged with manufacture of meth and possession of marijuana. He is under a $30,000 bond awaiting trial.
Herriman was arrested after police arrived at his home to assist the Department of Children’s Services in an investigation. Police say Herriman’s two children who were staying there were legally not supposed to be at the home.
It was during the visit patrolman Mark Mara said his eyes began watering and his head began to ache as he detected a strong chemical smell. Mara said he first asked Herriman how much chlorine he was using in his laundry, but soon realized the smell wasn’t from a bleach substance. Police then were given permission to search the house which Herriman was renting from his grandmother.
Police reported finding a significant amount of meth-making materials in the house, with some of the components located in a child’s bedroom while others were stashed in a closet. Police also reported finding two small marijuana plants.