Meth lab found in vacant building
By Abby Morris
Star Staff
amorris@starhq.com
Elizabethton Police Department officers identified
components of a methamphetamine laboratory inside a vacant
city business building after a crew sent there to clean it
found suspicious items.
Located next to Enterprise Rent-A-Car on West
Elk Avenue, the building has been vacant for some time, according
to Ken Phillips, director of the First Judicial Drug Task
Force. "My understanding is the building has been vacant for
approximately two months," he said. "The landlord was preparing
it for a new tenant. They had not been inside since the last
tenant moved out."
When the cleaning crew found components of the
lab they notified EPD officers who contacted the DTF. Members
of the Elizabethton Fire Department also responded to the
scene to secure the building.
The lab had been dismantled, and among the items
found were plastic tubing, muriatic acid, coffee filters,
matches, a vehicle battery, paint thinner and containers of
unknown liquids. "That's what our concern is, is the unknown
types of liquids," Phillips said.
A specialized hazardous materials team also responded
to assist in the clean up.
DTF agents processed the scene and took samples
for testing. "We have taken samples of other things in there
to see if they test positive for methamphetamine," Phillips
said.
Charges in the incident are pending, Phillips
said, but added that he expects they will be filed soon.
