Motel room meth lab raided
4 ARRESTED; JUVENILE IS FOUND AT SCENE
By Jim Warren
[email protected]
Charles Bertram | Staff
A man wearing a gown after decontamination was put into a police wagon. Police said one suspect was taken to the hospital because he might have swallowed some material in an attempt to dispose of evidence. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff
Lexington police arrested four people early Thursday after breaking up a working meth lab in a room at a Best Western Motel on Elkhorn Road, just off Winchester Road near Interstate 75.
Police Lt. Lawrence Weathers identified the four suspects as Craig C. Barber, 41; Cynthia R. Neeley, 36; Tina M. Whitlock, 38; and Thomas Stephens, 35. A 17-year-old who was with the four had not been charged as of noon.
The Fayette County Detention Center listed Barber and Whitlock as being from Lexington. Addresses for Stephens and Neeley were not available.
Weathers said the four adults are charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, a Class C felony, and with fourth-degree controlled-substance endangerment to a child, a Class D felony. The second charge is based on the juvenile's presence while meth was being made, Weathers said.
A "little bit" of finished methamphetamine was found at the scene, Weathers said.
He said the site was potentially dangerous because some of the chemicals and other agents found in the room, when mixed and heated, can pose fire and explosion hazards and could produce toxic fumes. Weathers described the lab as "an average size."
Officers went to the motel about 5 a.m. after receiving a telephone call. As a precaution, police evacuated one wing of the motel, involving 10 rooms, and firefighters in decontamination suits and protective masks collected and removed materials from the room and decontaminated the area. The step was taken because of the potentially flammable and toxic materials, officers said.
Police said one of the suspects was taken to the hospital for examination because he might have swallowed some material in an apparent attempt to dispose of evidence. One of the women arrested also was taken to the hospital after telling officers she felt shaky.
All four suspects were being held in the Fayette County Detention Center.
The four apparently had rented the motel room, but Weathers said it wasn't immediately known how long they had been there. It might have been only overnight, Weathers said.
Materials used to make meth can include iodine, ether, ammonia and lamp fuel.
"They are materials you can find in most homes, but when you start mixing them together, you can have a real problem," fire department Battalion Chief Joe Kinney said.
Police said staffers from the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department were expected to seal the room and advise motel officials on further cleanup.
4 ARRESTED; JUVENILE IS FOUND AT SCENE
By Jim Warren
[email protected]
Charles Bertram | Staff
A man wearing a gown after decontamination was put into a police wagon. Police said one suspect was taken to the hospital because he might have swallowed some material in an attempt to dispose of evidence. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff
Lexington police arrested four people early Thursday after breaking up a working meth lab in a room at a Best Western Motel on Elkhorn Road, just off Winchester Road near Interstate 75.
Police Lt. Lawrence Weathers identified the four suspects as Craig C. Barber, 41; Cynthia R. Neeley, 36; Tina M. Whitlock, 38; and Thomas Stephens, 35. A 17-year-old who was with the four had not been charged as of noon.
The Fayette County Detention Center listed Barber and Whitlock as being from Lexington. Addresses for Stephens and Neeley were not available.
Weathers said the four adults are charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, a Class C felony, and with fourth-degree controlled-substance endangerment to a child, a Class D felony. The second charge is based on the juvenile's presence while meth was being made, Weathers said.
A "little bit" of finished methamphetamine was found at the scene, Weathers said.
He said the site was potentially dangerous because some of the chemicals and other agents found in the room, when mixed and heated, can pose fire and explosion hazards and could produce toxic fumes. Weathers described the lab as "an average size."
Officers went to the motel about 5 a.m. after receiving a telephone call. As a precaution, police evacuated one wing of the motel, involving 10 rooms, and firefighters in decontamination suits and protective masks collected and removed materials from the room and decontaminated the area. The step was taken because of the potentially flammable and toxic materials, officers said.
Police said one of the suspects was taken to the hospital for examination because he might have swallowed some material in an apparent attempt to dispose of evidence. One of the women arrested also was taken to the hospital after telling officers she felt shaky.
All four suspects were being held in the Fayette County Detention Center.
The four apparently had rented the motel room, but Weathers said it wasn't immediately known how long they had been there. It might have been only overnight, Weathers said.
Materials used to make meth can include iodine, ether, ammonia and lamp fuel.
"They are materials you can find in most homes, but when you start mixing them together, you can have a real problem," fire department Battalion Chief Joe Kinney said.
Police said staffers from the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department were expected to seal the room and advise motel officials on further cleanup.
