Two Men Arrested At Tulsa Meth Lab, One For Child Endangerment

Two men are in jail, facing charges of attempting to make meth, and one them faces a charge of child endangerment.

Neighbors say they suspected the people in the house near North Joplin Avenue and East Pine Street were up to something, but didn't know it was drugs until a vapor cloud emerged from the garage door Sunday night.

Soon after, a section of North Joplin Avenue was backed up with fire trucks and police cars.

Firefighters were called to the suspected meth lab and police determined there was likely a child inside the house. It led to a moment where firefighters were ready with hoses, while police had guns drawn, trying to get the people inside to come out of the house.

"Upon their arrival, they really didn't see any smoke or anything, they had a slight odor of what might be an ammonia smell," said District Chief Bennie Herring.

That prompted a response from hazmat crews, while neighbors were reporting there were people inside.

Since there wasn't an active fire, firefighters didn't force their way in, but the police were about to when the landlord arrived with a key.

Police found two men and a boy inside, and the makings of a meth lab.

"Ultimately, we were able to get inside. There was a 10-year-old inside, we discovered two one-pot shake and bake meth labs in the house, two men were arrested and the boy was taken for medical treatment for being exposed to the meth lab," said Tulsa Police Officer Leland Ashley.

The two men are 20-year-old Jacob Barnes and 37-year-old Clifton Vincent.

Vincent's 10-year-old son was inside and taken out by police, while Vincent went away in handcuffs.

Even for the police, someone making meth with a child in the house is especially disturbing.

"If I'm Joe Citizen and my desire is to make meth, first, it's illegal and, second, it's dangerous, but to put my kid or any child in harm's way, it's really mind blowing to think someone wants to do that," Ashley said.

Both men have been arrested before: Barnes for meth production and burglary, Vincent for assault and having stolen property. That arrest was less than a month ago.

The young boy was treated and released, apparently uninjured.

Vincent, was booked for possession and attempt to manufacture drugs, as well as child endangerment. He is being held on $55,000 bond.

Barnes, who will be 21 in two days, was booked on complaints of manufacturing meth, possession of a controlled substance and interfering with a fireman.