Meth Lab Suspect Arrested After Fire
Ventura police on Monday arrested a Ventura resident on suspicion of manufacturing methamphetamines in an auto repair shop in the 1600 block of Callens Road.
Tracy Pickles, 41, was arrested and booked into the Ventura County Jail after police observed him returning to the shop at 2:30 a.m.--just hours after firefighters put out a blaze in the automotive shop and discovered the lab, police said.
Little damage was caused by the fire, but firefighters immediately notified police of the alleged lab. Inside the shop, Ventura detectives and county narcotics officers found various chemicals used in the manufacture of methamphetamines, a small amount of the drug, a variety of firearms and several hundred dollars in cash, police said.
The chemicals, which are environmentally hazardous, were removed over several hours. Officials said they are unsure of the cause of the fire.
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