Friday, August 20, 2010
Children Removed From Home With Meth Lab
Local law enforcement officials report three children were removed from their home and placed into state custody Thursday after they discovered methamphetamine was being manufactured there.
Drug agents received information regarding a possible meth lab at 105 Rabbit Town Road. As a result members of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department Crime Suppression Unit and an officer with the St. Joseph Police Department made their way to the home on Thursday.
When they arrived at the scene agents report noticing a man standing behind the residence, shaking a bottle. The man was identified as resident Justin Mashburn. Once Mashburn noticed the agents, they report he fled into the house with items clutched in his hand.
While exiting their vehicles, agents report detecting a strong chemical odor associated with the manufacture of meth. Agents report they had knowledge that small children were inside the home, therefore “entry to the residence was made for the safety of the children.”
In the living room, agents found resident Jessica McLaughlin (mother) and Jerry Mashburn (grandfather), along with two small children. Justin Mashburn (father) was located in the bathroom. Also in the bathroom, agents report, were “items used to manufacture meth.”
Agents indicate the interior of the home smelled strongly of a chemical odor “to the point where it was burning agents’ eyes.” It was at this point, they report, that the residents were all removed from the home due to safety concerns.
While removing them from the home agents were told that the couple, Jessica and Justin, also had a five-year-old child who was at school. The School Resource Officer at Loretto was contacted and instructed to remove the youngster from the classroom and bring him to the home. The Department of Children Services was notified and summoned to the scene to take custody of the children.
The Lawrenceburg Fire Department Hazmat Team was called to the scene as were the Lawrence County Ambulance Service and Centerpoint Fire Department. They were asked to assist with the decontamination process and other safety precautions. Agents with the Lawrenceburg Police Department Drug Unit were summoned, also, to assist with processing the meth lab.
Jessica McLaughlin, Justin Mashburn, and Jerry Mashburn were placed under arrest on charges of child endangerment, initiation in a process to manufacture meth, promotion to manufacture meth, possession of Schedule II narcotics, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
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