Pair With Drug Lab in Home Arrested
A husband and wife were arrested this week after officers knocked on their door and discovered a functioning methamphetamine lab, police said.
Sandra and Michael Hale, 36 and 39 respectively, were released on bail and are expected to be charged with manufacturing a controlled substance and, because their 14-year-old son was present, felony child endangerment.
Randy Smeal, a spokesman for the Brea Police Department, said the two were arrested Thursday afternoon after a team of law enforcement officers knocked on their door on the 17000 block of Willow Circle while investigating an invoice from a Placentia chemical company showing that Michael Hale had purchased several chemicals known to be primary ingredients of methamphetamine.
“There are, basically, not too many legitimate uses for those chemicals,” Smeal said. “Not too many everyday citizens would buy those things.”
After detecting the strong smell of chemicals, Smeal said, he entered the house, discovered a drug lab in a back bedroom and, fearing an explosion, ordered the evacuation of nine surrounding houses.
Police seized enough chemicals at the site to produce about a pound of methamphetamine, worth about $6,000 on the street, police said.
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