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Observant construction workers help police bust amateur meth lab in Taylorsville

Posted at 4:48 PM, Oct 05, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-05 18:48:45-04

TAYLORSVILLE, Utah – Police said it was crude, but probably effective and potentially dangerous, after some construction workers came across the makings of a meth operation in Taylorsville Tuesday.

Some construction workers spotted what appeared to be chemicals out of place on Tuesday near 5400 South and Redwood Road, and when police came to investigate they found the makings of a crude meth lab.

“So to come across something like this is very abnormal, and it was a heads-up play by these construction workers,” Lt. Brian Lohrke of the Unified Police Department said.

Police called in the DEA, and a team wearing protective Hazmat suits secured the chemicals. Detectives say they have a pretty good lead on who was running the amateur operation.

“It's still under investigation,” Lohrke said. “We have a few leads that we are acting on at this time, but it is an active investigation and we are looking to seek out the individuals who were trying this science experiment."

Investigators said it appears the lab was aimed at making personal amounts of meth, not a large operation. However, the chemicals pose a big concern for construction workers or anyone else who might have come across them.

"A lot of those chemicals can become very hazardous, toxic, explosive in some situations,” Lohrke said.

Anyone with information about the alleged meth operation is encouraged to call UPD at 801-743-7000.