Meth lab found in the city
A Warren Street man faces narcotics charges after deputies found an alleged meth lab inside his home while searching for a fugitive.
The suspect, Ralph Edward (Junior) Pease was charged with manufacture of meth when he returned home Thursday afternoon to find lawmen at his residence waiting for him.
According to Sheriff Jackie Matheny, deputies went to Pease’s residence, located off Spring Street in the city, after receiving information a person wanted on outstanding warrants was hiding out there. Matheny did not release the name of the fugitive, noting he was not present at the house.
However, Matheny said deputies discovered numerous items commonly used in the production of meth inside the house while looking for the unidentified fugitive.
“There was pretty well everything there you need to make the stuff,” Matheny said, noting officers found layered liquids and other items indicating the meth-making process was under way.
The discovery of the lab in the densely populated neighborhood located in the heart of the city is not surprising to Matheny, who says he has seen meth labs in virtually every neighborhood since the epidemic began in earnest five years ago.
“We’ve found them in Westwood and on West End, in apartments and in trailers, in the city and in the woods. They’re everywhere,” Matheny said. “There’s very few areas where we haven’t seen a lab since all this started.”