Salisbury investigators seized eight one-pot meth labs inside a Bell Street home after a neighbor notified them of a chemical smell coming from the home.
Brian Keith Ford, 22, of Savanna Creek Way, St. Stevens, S.C., is charged with felony possession of immediate precursor chemicals and misdemeanor maintaining a dwelling place for controlled substances.
Investigators went to the home, in the 1200 block of Bell Street, which is located off Mildred Avenue in Salisbury after a neighbor reported a strong chemical odor and saw several propane canisters behind the home. The neighbor also had seen meth labs on television and believed there was one at the Bell Street home.
The narcotics unit went inside the home shortly before 9 p.m. Monday and discovered contents that led them to believe it was in fact a meth lab.
Salisbury Police investigators and agents with the SBI, wearing hazardous material suits, collected and itemized evidence taken from the home just before noon Tuesday. Officers seized plastic bottles used typically in what is referred to as one-pot meth labs. The officers collected several bottles, muriatic acid or hydrochloric acid, cold tablets and other items.
The one-pot meth labs use a process called “shake and bake” where the makers mix cold pills with other chemicals and shake the contents in two liter bottles.
An officer placed a notice on the front door of the home to notify the property owner a meth lab had been found inside. Officials say the home will have to be properly cleaned, likely gutted, or condemned because of the dangerous chemicals used in the home.
Police Capt. Shelia Lingle said more charges are pending for Brian Ford. Ford remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond.
Rowan investigators went into a Rockwell mobile home just five months ago where they found six one-pot meth labs inside.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.