close

Meth lab found in Hopwood apartment after police respond to domestic assault

By Alyssa Choiniere achoiniere@heraldstandard.Com 3 min read

A methamphetamine lab was discovered in a South Union Township apartment early Saturday while state police were responding to a domestic assault.

Lawrence Thomas Wolff, 40, of Smithfield was arrested for allegedly manufacturing the drug at 6A Bryson Blvd. in an apartment complex. The process is known to present a high risk of explosion.

A meth lab exploded in Connellsville May 21, injuring three people at a duplex on South Carnegie Avenue. The injured people were flown to Pittsburgh hospitals by medical helicopters with chemical burns.

On May 5, state police found a meth lab at a La Belle duplex at 603 Riverside Dr. Donald Wayne Nichols, 48, of La Belle was charged for allegedly manufacturing blue meth. He is awaiting his preliminary hearing in the case.

Police were called to the Bryson Boulevard apartment just after midnight Saturday when they spotted materials used in making meth. They contacted the state police Clandestine Laboratory Response Team, which determined someone in the residence was using the “one-pot” cook method to manufacture the drugs.

“‘One-Pot’ reaction vessels can catch on fire or explode if the reaction does not go properly,” state police wrote in the affidavit of probable cause filed in the case.

The affidavit went on to say acid generators can be dangerous if gases are inhaled.

Police said they found two acid generators and multiple chemicals used in meth manufacture in the residence.

Elaine Jo Cochenour, 34, reported to police that Wolff was cooking meth in the apartment earlier that day, and usually keeps it under the sink. She said he assaulted her and attempted to inject her with a loaded needle of meth. Police said she suffered “significant injury” to her eye. She was transported to Uniontown Hospital for treatment.

James Carlo Firestone, 37, of Gans was also charged in the case after he was found hiding behind a closet door. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance and false identification to law enforcement. He is lodged in Fayette County Prison in lieu of a $10,000 bond.

Cochenour told police she had never met Firestone before. She said he tried to help her during the alleged assault.

Wolff is charged with possession of red phosphorus with intent to manufacture a controlled substance, risking catastrophe, storing chemical waste, possession of drug paraphernalia, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

He was arraigned Saturday morning before on-call Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. Shimshock and lodged in Fayette County Prison in lieu of a $75,000 bond.

His preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for 9 a.m. July 19 before Shimshock.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $4.79/week.

Subscribe Today