Investigators Searching for Suspects in Lonoke Meth Lab Explosion
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
Investigators determined the cause of a Friday night house explosion in Lonoke. The result: a working meth lab in the most unlikely of places - the downtown.
Investigators responded to the house fire on 1211 North Center Street in Lonoke after 9:30 p.m. The heat of the fire was so intense that it slightly melted the wall of a next door terminex business. Officials believe the meth lab was occupied by at least 4 people, including 2 children. No one was home by the time crews arrived on the scene.
"They`re getting bolder and braver about where they cook," said Detective David Huggs with the Lonoke Police Department.
Friday nights explosion was felt as far as 3 blocks away. Mark Izzo, a father of 2 children, said his neighborhood is typically a quiet one, and mostly occupied by seniors.
"We didn`t think anything about it. We thought it was just thunder and then we heard a large one. It shook the walls, in fact, all the neighbors came out, and we just saw smoke pouring into the sky," said Izzo.
Authorities believe the meth lab was operating in the laundry room, which is just a walking distance from a hot water heater. Because of its proximity to the meth lab, they believe the heat set off the explosion.
"After the fire was extinguished, we went in and discovered it was a meth lab," added Huggs.
This explosion, and recent others, come on the heels of proposed legislation that would charge meth cooks with arson for starting fires. The current law prohibits that from happening, because meth related fires are considered accidental, with no proof of intent to start the fire. Lonoke police officials believe tougher laws must be implemented.
"Yes, I believe that would be a good idea," said Huggs.
"I don`t know the answers to it, but we need more law enforcement, more laws to help control it, added nearby business owner John Cheney.
As for the investigation, authorities are now searching for the home owners. Their names could be released as early as next week, with criminal charges to follow.
