SPRINGDALE - Police conducting follow-up investigations at a Springdale apartment complex this week found remnants of two more methamphetamine manufacturing operations, prompting the evacuation of three neighboring apartments.
Springdale police on Friday arrested Adam Cline, 27, Kelly Cuesta, 37, Ashley Kilpatrick, 20, and John Sheeley, 60, on charges of possessing paraphernalia with intent to manufacture and possession of a controlled substance. All were arrested at 213 Erin Place, Apt. 202, said police spokesman Sgt. Shane Pegram.
Roommates Becca Ross and Tori Mooneyham are the only ones left in the four-plex, which was evacuated Monday after children at the apartment complex led police to a black bag containing methamphetamine production components.
"It's been a little bit inconvenient to say the least," Mooneyham said.
Ross said that she recently suffered a seizure she attributes to fumes from the lab. She said everyone living there has been feeling ill in the three weeks the unit has been occupied.
On Tuesday afternoon, police found remnants of a methamphetamine lab in an apartment previously occupied by the same four people, Pegram said.
"It looks like it was not a meth lab, but what's called lab trash," he said.
Pegram said that the findings required more tenants to be relocated, this time from 282 Erin Place. He said parts of that building were tagged for testing.
Another lab was found just south of the unit at 312 Erin Place in June.
Chief building official Mike Chamlee said he inspected the building as part of the Springdale Nuisance Abatement Program.
The black bag found behind the apartment contained several items, including a can of camp fuel and ammonia sludge, Chamlee said.
Chamlee said that the two adjoining apartment units were evacuated until tests can be done to determine whether there is any contamination from drug manufacturing.
Chamlee said that in the past two years about six labs had to be cleaned up throughout the city.
"It seems like when you find one you find two or three more fairly quickly," he said.
Cleaning the site will likely cost a minimum of $1,500 said Jerry Allred, principal broker for the firm that manages the apartment units.
Allred said he hopes the building can be cleaned quickly, but if not, they will discuss options with displaced tenants, such as possibly refunding a portion of their rent.
Legal action will likely be taken against the tenants of the unit, Allred said.
Once initial tests are done a cleanup plan will be developed, said Carlette Anderson, executive director of Haz-Mert, which handles and disposes of hazardous wastes.
Anderson said her firm is bidding on the Erin Place apartment, but she has not been in the building. Typically the test will determine what steps are taken.
High contamination levels could require the removal of drywall, Anderson said. She said the first step is to determine whether the presence of methamphetamine is above the state standard of 0.05 micrograms per hundred cubic centimeters.
Anderson said the cleanup could take weeks.
"A lot of times we have meth that permeates the walls," she said. "We may have to clean three times to get a good level - it's a lot of work."
Copyright © 2001-2009 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved.
Springdale police on Friday arrested Adam Cline, 27, Kelly Cuesta, 37, Ashley Kilpatrick, 20, and John Sheeley, 60, on charges of possessing paraphernalia with intent to manufacture and possession of a controlled substance. All were arrested at 213 Erin Place, Apt. 202, said police spokesman Sgt. Shane Pegram.
Roommates Becca Ross and Tori Mooneyham are the only ones left in the four-plex, which was evacuated Monday after children at the apartment complex led police to a black bag containing methamphetamine production components.
"It's been a little bit inconvenient to say the least," Mooneyham said.
Ross said that she recently suffered a seizure she attributes to fumes from the lab. She said everyone living there has been feeling ill in the three weeks the unit has been occupied.
On Tuesday afternoon, police found remnants of a methamphetamine lab in an apartment previously occupied by the same four people, Pegram said.
"It looks like it was not a meth lab, but what's called lab trash," he said.
Pegram said that the findings required more tenants to be relocated, this time from 282 Erin Place. He said parts of that building were tagged for testing.
Another lab was found just south of the unit at 312 Erin Place in June.
Chief building official Mike Chamlee said he inspected the building as part of the Springdale Nuisance Abatement Program.
The black bag found behind the apartment contained several items, including a can of camp fuel and ammonia sludge, Chamlee said.
Chamlee said that the two adjoining apartment units were evacuated until tests can be done to determine whether there is any contamination from drug manufacturing.
Chamlee said that in the past two years about six labs had to be cleaned up throughout the city.
"It seems like when you find one you find two or three more fairly quickly," he said.
Cleaning the site will likely cost a minimum of $1,500 said Jerry Allred, principal broker for the firm that manages the apartment units.
Allred said he hopes the building can be cleaned quickly, but if not, they will discuss options with displaced tenants, such as possibly refunding a portion of their rent.
Legal action will likely be taken against the tenants of the unit, Allred said.
Once initial tests are done a cleanup plan will be developed, said Carlette Anderson, executive director of Haz-Mert, which handles and disposes of hazardous wastes.
Anderson said her firm is bidding on the Erin Place apartment, but she has not been in the building. Typically the test will determine what steps are taken.
High contamination levels could require the removal of drywall, Anderson said. She said the first step is to determine whether the presence of methamphetamine is above the state standard of 0.05 micrograms per hundred cubic centimeters.
Anderson said the cleanup could take weeks.
"A lot of times we have meth that permeates the walls," she said. "We may have to clean three times to get a good level - it's a lot of work."
Copyright © 2001-2009 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved.
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