An investigation into a burglary in Watertown has led to the arrest of one man and the discovery of a suspected meth lab in a Factory Street apartment.
Stephen L. Myers, 48, of 661 Factory St., Apt. 34, was charged Tuesday with third-degree burglary, fifth-degree criminal possesion of stolen property and petit larceny.
City police said they were responding to a burglary at Griff's Redemption Center, 507 Factory St., at about 8:30 a.m. and followed tracks in the snow to the apartment building at 661 Factory St.
Officer Matthew J. Dawley's investigation led him to Mr. Myers's basement apartment, where police say they found him making methamphetamine and arrested him. He was held in the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building pending arraignment in City Court.
On Tuesday afternoon a state police-affiliated Contaminated Crime Scene Emergency Response Team removed materials from the apartment building for further evaluation. A determination of charges for methamphetamine production may not be made until today.
In June, Mr. Myers pleaded guilty to third-degree attempted unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine for making the drug in a residence he shared in Carthage in December 2012.
On Tuesday afternoon, multiple residents of the Factory Street apartment building said it was uncommon for tenants to interact with one another.
"I don't know half the people who live in here," said Lucas P. Tavani, adding he had lived in the building for a few months.
Copyright 2013 - Watertown Daily Times, N.Y.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
