Routine Traffic Stop Yields Suspect in Investigation of Meth Lab

Officers who stopped a driver for a traffic infraction discovered he was the man whom narcotics detectives were targeting in the investigation of a storefront methamphetamine lab.

“It was like a total fluke,” Placentia Police Sgt. Ward Smith said. “We were setting up operations to do surveillance with the state narcotics investigators and this happened.”

During the stop, a patrol officer found bottles of chemicals and glassware used to make methamphetamine in the car of Thomas Edward Floodberg, 34, of Placentia, Smith said.

Investigators questioned Floodberg and saw a connection between him and JD Appliances in the 1000 block of South Melrose Street, where a clandestine lab was found. Narcotics investigators had already been looking into drug activity there, but the apprehension of Floodberg advanced the case, Smith said.

Police found two gallons of liquid methamphetamine, two ounces of the finished drug and containers of chemicals and flasks used to make the drug, also known as crank or speed.

“There were no appliances there,” Smith said. “They were running a fully operational clandestine lab.”

When investigators busted the lab, four men were inside, allegedly dismantling the equipment and facility.

Investigators said the methamphetamine found had a street value of about $40,000.

Arrested were John Frederick Baumann, 34, of Placentia; Brian Andrew Gabele, 30, of Redondo Beach; Jeffrey Alan Love, 34, of Anaheim; and Michael Emil Whitney, 38, of Westchester.

Police said they believe the lab had been running for more than a year.