Meth lab burned after police arrive

Two men were arrested early Monday morning, June 23, after the police broke into a building at Warren Barrett Drive and Orchard Avenue, where a meth lab was being burned.
When the police arrived, the suspects “were involved in an active methamphetamine lab,” said Lt. John Zerbonia, criminal investigations commander with the Hannibal Police Department.
Zerbonia explained that no one was injured, and the two suspects were the only people in the building when the police broke a door to gain entry.
Police arrested John W. Bevill, 37, of New London, and Jason L. Bradley, 35, of Hannibal. They were taken to the Marion County Jail in Palmyra on a 24-hour hold, pending the issuance of warrants.
Both were arrested for manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of anhydrous ammonia, tampering with physical evidence and interfering with arrest.
The HPD report of their arrests was turned over to Marion County Prosecuting Attorney Tom Redington late Monday afternoon, and no warrants had been issued by press time.
The incident began at 5 a.m. Monday when the police were called to the 3500 block of Warren Barrett Drive, Zerbonia said. A burglary was reported in a small storage building near the building where the two were arrested.
The burglary victim reported doors were open in the other building. This was formerly a transfer building used for freight transfers from semis.
When the burglary victim walked toward the other building, someone shut the door, and the victim then called the police.
After the police arrived and were trying to enter the building, someone “set the lab on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence,” Zerbonia said. “The fire was set after the police arrived.”
The fire department also was called to the scene.
Officers from the HPD Narcotics Unit and the North East Missouri Narcotics Task Force were called to collect evidence and process the scene, he reported.
During the search of the building, a pressurized tank of anhydrous ammonia was located, and NEMO Task Force agents destroyed the tank on scene.
Zerbonia explained the task force is always called to assist the police, because its officers are certified in disposal of the hazardous materials used to make meth.

Two officers exposed to dangerous fumes

Two HPD officers were briefly exposed to dangerous fumes when they entered the building that had been used for the meth lab, according to HPD Chief Lyndell Davis.
“The building was full of fumes when the officers went in,” he said. “Two officers had some very brief exposure, but the fumes were so intense that they contacted medical personnel.
“It was believed their exposure was brief enough that it did not do any long-term harm.”
Davis added, “We do have specialized equipment, but this was a situation where the officers went in to apprehend them, and they were not aware of the fumes.
“The job is dangerous,” Davis said. “You have the same situation with firefighters. ...I have a lot of dedicated, talented people on the force, and I appreciate their efforts. I hope the community does, too.”
The task force was used to dispose of the anhydrous ammonia at the scene, Davis said, because “anhydrous is a hazardous material and we had to properly dispose of it on the property. ...These meth labs pose a lot of danger.”