Storage unit used to produce meth

Owner finds second lab in month's time

By TERESA RESSEL
Daily Journal Staff Writer

BONNE TERRE — The owner of storage units on Berry Road in Bonne Terre discovered another meth lab on Saturday.

Police Chief Doug Calvert said the owner of Pond Creek Storage was cleaning out a unit that wasn’t being paid for and she found a meth lab.

“I got a call from the owner who thought she found illegal items,” said Officer Chad Brown. “... It was a really big meth lab. One of the biggest I’ve seen in awhile.”

The Mineral Area Drug Task Force was called to process the meth lab. Brown said there was a five gallon bucket of Muriatic acid. He believes they had been making meth for awhile.

Calvert said it doesn’t appear to be the renter of the unit. He believes someone dug underneath the outside fence to get on the property. The day before police were called to the storage units because someone damaged the fence.

He said they are seeking two or three suspects and they could be charged with burglary and trespassing, as well as the drug charges.

Brown said there was some finished product and a little bit of marijuana.

On June 24, the first meth lab was found in a storage unit there.

It was also found by the owner who opened one of the units after she got suspicious. When she unlocked it, two people ran out. Inside, she found a smaller meth lab.

Calvert doesn’t believe the prosecutor has filed formal charges yet in that case.

Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.

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