Published November 11, 2009 09:41 pm - 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 and have been known to explode.
Meth lab remains found on Orangeville Road, made safe
By Joe Pinchot
Herald Staff Writer
WEST SALEM TOWNSHIP
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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.”