CHAPMANVILLE — A meth lab was found yesterday afternoon by the side of the road at Chapmanville.

Logan County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Sonya Porter said that Lt. D. E. Brown and Deputy N. M. Booth of the Logan County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to Meetinghouse Branch just off U.S. Route 119 about a possible meth lab found by the guardrail around 4 p.m. near Chapmanville.

Porter said the officers arrived on scene and found that a duffel bag had been discovered behind the guardrail.

She said that once the people who had found the bag looked inside the bag and saw the contents, they called 911 for law enforcement.

Porter said the deputies processed the bag for evidence and found a loaded handgun, methamphetamine and other items used in making meth.

After deputies processed the scene for evidence, the Department of Environmental Protection was called in to clean up and dispose of the hazardous chemical waste found at the scene.

The incident is still under investigation by the Logan County Sheriff’s Department and Logan County deputies assigned to the US 119 Task Force.

Porter said that many people may be unaware they are living near a meth lab.

"Meth labs turn up in houses, barns, apartments, trailers, campers, storage buildings, cabins and motel rooms — even the backs of pickups," Porter said. "The equipment for a meth lab can be as small as to fit in a duffel bag, a cardboard box or the trunk of a car."

The Logan County Sheriff’s Department lists some things to look for in identifying a meth lab:

­ Unusual, strong odors like cat urine, ether, ammonia, acetone or other chemicals.

­ Residences with windows blacked out.

­ Lots of traffic — people coming and going at unusual times. There may be little traffic during the day, but at night the activity increases dramatically.

­ Excessive trash including large amounts of items such as antifreeze containers, lantern fuel cans, red chemically stained coffee filters, drain cleaner and duct tape.

­ Unusual amounts of clear glass containers being brought into the home.

­ Windows blacked out or covered by aluminum foil, plywood, sheets, blankets, etc.

­ Secretive/protective equipment surrounding the residence such as video cameras, alarm systems, guard dogs, reinforced doors, electrified fencing.

—Persons exiting the structure to smoke.

—Little traffic during the day, but high traffic at late hours, including different vehicles arriving and staying for short periods of time.

"If you think you may have a meth lab in your neighborhood please contact the Logan County Sheriff’s Department at 304-792-8590 for assistance," Porter said.

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To reach Staff Writer Michael Browning with news tips, questions or comments, please call him at 304-752-6950, extension 309, or e-mail him at mbrowning@loganbanner.com.