Hazmat Ninjas Descend on Knight Avenue Meth Lab

Police discover meth lab in Attleboro
http://www.thesunchronicle.com/attleboro/police-discover-meth-lab-in-attleboro/article_5d05337a-d8df-11e5-99fa-77e9b6b43ac4.html

Knight Meth Lab

PAUL CONNORS

Investigators wearing hazmat suits carry evidence away from a suspected meth lab in a town home on Knight Avenue in Attleboro, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016.

Posted: Sunday, February 21, 2016 4:09 pm | Updated: 8:11 pm, Sun Feb 21, 2016.

BY STU SKERKER FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE and ANDREW DOERFLER SUN CHRONICLE STAFF |

ATTLEBORO — Police are investigating a methamphetamine lab they discovered at a Knight Avenue house after responding to a report of an overdose.

According to Police Chief Kyle Heagney, police received a call around 12:40 p.m. Sunday that a 52-year-old male was having an overdose. When police and firefighters arrived at the house at 205 Knight Ave., they realized the man was ill due to the effects of cooking methamphetamine, Heagney said.

The man was transported to Sturdy Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Residents living nearby were astonished that a meth lab was found in their neighborhood.

Jen Masse, who lives a few doors down on Knight Avenue from the scene of the investgation, said she was returning home after a trip to Walmart when she saw the street was blocked off. Police eventually let her pass.

She and her family initially had no idea the scene involved a meth lab.

“We were all very surprised,” Masse said.

A resident of South Main Street who didn’t want to give her name said she had moved from Providence to Attleboro to be more safe. She said she couldn’t believe a meth lab had been found in a residential area of Attleboro where it could have harmed neighbors.

A regional hazardous materials team was called to the scene, as was the Mass State Police bomb squad and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency meth lab response team, the chief said.

The occupants of two homes, one on each side of the affected house were evacuated as a precaution, he said.

Firefighters suited up in protective gear and entered the house to meter the levels of danger inside the building and city firefighters also brought one hose line to the house.

Heagney said once the house was determined to be safe, police officers would enter the house and collect evidence and remove evidence.

One other person was inside the house at the time, but was not affected by drugs.

The chief said in his 17 years as a police officer in Attleboro this is the first meth lab that he can recall.

He also said they were very popular in the Midwest and other New England states such as Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire but rare in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.