Police Surprised Meth Lab Suspects, Home Condemned

Washington police are looking to question suspects who fled from a West Seventh Street home where a methamphetamine lab was discovered Friday night, June 29.

Meanwhile, the city has marked the home in the 1000 block of West Seventh as condemned until it is decontaminated, Police Chief Ken Hahn said.

Hahn said police had reports of suspicious activity at the house and shortly before 10 p.m. Friday officers went there to serve a warrant on a man believed to be at the residence.

When officers arrived they reportedly saw three male suspects allegedly cooking meth in the garage. The suspects fled on foot when they saw the patrol car approaching the house.

Officers seized a one-pot meth lab along with chemicals and other lab components, according to reports.

Hahn said officers later interviewed a man who was living at the home, owned by his father, and told him that he could not return to the house until it was decontaminated.

A short time after that, the man was found inside the house and was arrested on a trespassing charge, Hahn said.

Police are still seeking the other suspects who ran from the house.

Names of the suspects were not released because they have not been charged in the case.

The prosecuting attorney’s office will consider possible charges after evidence seized at the home is analyzed at the Missouri Highway Patrol crime lab, authorities said.

Assisting police at the scene were Washington firefighters and an officer with the Franklin County Narcotics Enforcement Unit.