State police have released the identity of a man who is facing charges after they busted up a methamphetamine laboratory operating out of a home at 265 Main Street in Ernest pm Friday evening. The suspect was arrested earlier on Friday for meth charges after a traffic stop in White Township.
39-year-old Jeremy Michael Clawson is accused of operating a meth manufacturing lab at his home. Police went there Friday evening because of information received from the public after Clawson’s arrest earlier in the day. They were given permission by Clawson to search the home, and they found several items “consistent with the clandestine manufacturing of methamphetamine.” They found the contraband in the basement and garage.
The State Police Clandestine Laboratory Response Team was then summoned to process, inventory, and collect the items. Further searching revealed garbage bags which police say are used to manufacture the drugs. There were no incidents during the bust.
Police say two juveniles also live at the home in Ernest. Clawson is charged with endangering the welfare of children, operating a methamphetamine laboratory and illegal dumping of methamphetamine waste, and manufacturing a controlled substance; plus misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of pseudoephedrine for methamphetamine manufacture.
In the earlier incident, state police pulled Clawson over for a traffic violation and found a small amount of marijuana and a plastic one-liter bottle with materials used in the production of meth. They say they believe that Clawson was using the “one-pot” method of producing the drug.
Clawson is in the Indiana County Jail awaiting arraignment before District Judge Chris Welch.
Police remind the public that suspected illegal drug activities may be reported to state or local police agencies, and anonymous reports may be made on the 24-hour Drug Trafficking Tip Line at 1-877-PA-NODRUGS.
