The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

November 11, 2009

Meth lab remains found on Orangeville Road, made safe

By Joe Pinchot

WEST SALEM TOWNSHIP — Jeff Myers called the thought that there was a methamphetamine laboratory in his West Salem Township neighborhood unsettling.

“Nobody wants that going on in their neighborhood,” Myers said.

State police said the remains of a meth lab were found Tuesday at 308 Orangeville Road. Meth labs are notorious because of the hazardous chemicals that can be used in making the dangerous drug — including battery acid, antifreeze, lye and drain cleaner — and have been known to explode. Greenville-West Salem Township Police Chief Dennis Stephens said he did not know whether the lab was active or not, but there is no danger remaining.

The state police Clandestine Laboratory Response Team collected evidence at the site, disposed of anything harmful that was found, and rendered the site safe, he said.

“It’s definitely safe, now,” Stephens said. “They wouldn’t leave it in an unsafe condition.”

The suspected meth lab remains were found in a shed, state police said. Items discovered included precursors and filters believed to contain meth residue, police said.

Paraphernalia believed to have been used to ingest and inject meth and crack cocaine were found in the home, police said, and several guns were found in unspecified places.

Neighbor Henry Roberts called the news of the meth lab “kind of scary,” and other neighbors agreed.

“It’s not a good thing, obviously,” Myers said.

A man was arrested up the street about three years ago for growing marijuana. Myers said.

“Obviously it’s a problem,” he said of drugs. “This is a little more of a problem, if it’s true.”

While no charges have been filed, Jeremy L. Hoffman, 30, of 308 Orangeville, was arrested by agents of Pennsylvania Probation and Parole on a parole violation, police said in a news release.

Parole agents received a tip that Hoffman — court records show he was on parole for drunken driving, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under suspension charges — was involved in drug activity, state police said.

Agents searched the property briefly at 9:45 a.m., determined that the meth lab remains were present, and called Greenville-West Salem police and state police, who brought in the Clandestine Laboratory Response Team, state police said.

“I never seen so damn much law in my life,” said a neighbor who wouldn’t give his name. “They were in and out of there all day.”

Whenever a potential meth lab is found, police are instructed to “step back” and let the specially trained response team handle the investigation of the site, Stephens said.

“It has the potential to be dangerous in any situation,” Stephens said.

Stephens said he did not know what was found at the site.

The chief added that, due to the spacing between houses, he does not believe an active meth lab at the home would have posed any danger to neighbors.

Seized items have been sent to the state police lab for analysis, and police said they do not expect to decide on charges until those results are back.

Methamphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant — known informally as an upper — and is highly addictive, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Its various forms, which can be smoked, injected, snorted or taken orally, are known under slang names such as ice, crystal meth and crank.

Aside from the immediate dangers the chemicals pose to people who enter meth labs, the chemicals can contaminate drinking water, soil and air, and children exposed to meth labs have suffered health problems, NIDA said.

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