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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, April 6, 2004
| Contact: |
Gerald Tousley, Hazardous Waste Specialist, 360-754-4111 |
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Brad Watkins, Thurston County Sheriff’s Office,
360-786-5518 |
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John Tennis, Public Information Program Manager,
360-709-3073 |
Illegal Drug
Lab House to be Burned Down
OLYMPIA -- A controlled burn will rid a south Thurston County
neighborhood of an abandoned house that was used in the manufacture of
methamphetamine. The Bucoda
Volunteer Fire Department will burn down the home on Market Street South at 12
Noon on Saturday, April 10th.
The house came to the attention of law enforcement back in February when
a Crimestopper’s tip lead to the discovery of an extensive meth
manufacturing operation in the dilapidated structure. Brad Watkins of the Thurston County Sheriff’s Special
Enforcement Team says clandestine lab materials were found in virtually every
room of the house. “Everywhere
we turned in this home we found either a lab in operation or the materials
needed to manufacture methamphetamine. In
addition, the toxic wastes left from the manufacture of meth were all over the
place.”
Two men were arrested in connection with the illegal manufacturing set
up and with a second lab discovered in a home nearby. They were taken into custody for investigation of manufacture
of a controlled substance.
Thurston County environmental health specialist Gerald Tousley says
there was quite a bit of damage to the home because of the lethal chemicals
left behind from the creation of meth. “We
recovered 14 gallons of toxic materials from the home which is a significant
amount of the highly volatile and dangerous leftovers from the meth process.
The poor condition of the home, combined with the contamination of the
structure lead to the idea of burning down the house.
The owner of the home agreed to have the house burned.
The event will be used as practice training for the Bucoda Volunteer
Fire Department.
ASSIGNMENT EDITORS - Gerald Tousley can speak to issues regarding
contamination of the home. Brad
Watkins can talk about the criminal investigation at the home and the extent
of the meth lab activity in the area. The
house is located at 308 Market Street South in Bucoda.
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