Portage County Drug Task Force agents were called to Rootstown to help dispose of a meth lab dump site this morning.

A Rootstown Township employee was mowing grass on Lynn Road around 9:30 a.m. when he hit a garbage bag full of trash, including items used to manufacture meth. The garbage caught on fire and was burning along the side of the road before the worker put it out.

Task Force members than stablized the chemicals and called a chemical disposal company to get rid of the dangerous items that are capable of producing explosions, fires, or other harmful effects.

Portage County Sheriff David Doak says people who find trash along the side of the road including back packs, containers, and other suspicious bags should contact the Portage County Drug Task Force or the Portage County Sheriff’s Office.

In addition Tuesday, the Task Force also located 28 marijuana plants in a wooded area off State Route 88 in Nelson Township after acting on a tip. The plants averaged about 4 feet in height and the owner of the plants is unknown at this time.

Press Release:

On Tuesday, July 24, 2012, Portage County Drug Task Force was called by Rootstown Twp. Road Department to respond to a Meth Lab dump site on Lynn Road off Rootstown Road. Task Force Members learned that an employee of the township was mowing on Lynn Road when he struck a garbage bag full of trash which ignited and started burning along side the road. The fire was extinguished by the worker. Task Force members stabilized the chemicals and contacted a chemical disposal company to dispose.

According to Sheriff David W. Doak this is the third Meth Lab the Task Force has dealt with in the past 5 days and these labs continue to be a growing problem in the Portage County area. Sheriff Doak wants to remind the citizens of the county of the dangers of flash fire, chemical exposure and explosions that are associated with meth labs and cautions citizens when finding trash along side our roads to report suspicious bags, back packs and containers to your local police department, the Portage County Drug Task Force or the Portage County Sheriff’s Office.
 

Also on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, Task Force Agents acting on a tip responded to a wooded area off State Route 88 in Nelson Twp where they located and pulled 28 marijuana plants averaging about 4 foot in height. At this time the owner of these plants is unknown.  

Two men were arrested after allegedly attempting to dispose of a meth lab.

Members of the Portage County Drug Task Force and the Portage County Sheriff’s Office were called to a home on Kapity Drive in Suffield Township in search of 36-year-old Michael McClelland,who was wanted by the Task Force for Illegal Manufacturing of Methamphetamine at his home on Heartwood Drive in Suffield Township.

Keith Brian Davis was arrested at McClelland’s Heartwood Drive house for making meth in March, but McClelland wasn’t home at the time, according to deputies.

When deputies arrived they observed both a man and a woman inside the house early Friday morning, April 6th. Portage County Sheriff David Doak says the man was running from the upstairs to the family room throwing large bottles in the fireplace. He also attempted to  throw a can of Coleman fuel into the fireplace as well

Deputies were able to get inside the home to preserve evidence and prevent an explosion. While inside, Task Force Agents found chemicals and components used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine.

Arrested  was 37-year-old Adam Evans, who lived in the house. He faces various drug charges related to meth. Michael McClelland was arrested later that day by Task Force Members and Sheriff’s Deputies during a traffic stop on Etter Road.