Tulsa Police Bust Apartment Meth Lab

By Nicole Wiseman, NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- Officers with the Tulsa Police Department bust another Tulsa meth lab.

Police received a tip shortly before 9 p.m. Saturday from an anonymous caller about a chemical odor at the Peoria Gardens Apartments in the 6300 block of South Owasso.

Officers arrived and confirmed what the caller suspected -- a meth lab.

Tulsa police have seen a recent increase in meth labs and say they believe it's because of a new method for making methamphetamine called shake and bake.

"With this new method we're seeing more of them and they pose a unique threat. They're very hazardous and we expect to see more of them," said Captain Richard Alexander with the Tulsa Police Department.

Captain Alexander says this new method could have been used in the city's latest meth lab bust at the Peoria Gardens Apartments. It's called the shake and bake, or one pop method, because the chemicals are poured into a pop bottle and then shaken. It's a quicker and easier way for drug cooks to make meth.

3/11/2009 Related Story: New Meth Method Causing More Fires

Safety for the neighbors was a top priority and crews quickly evacuated the apartment building.

"Fortunately in this building, a lot of the surrounding apartments were already vacant, which made our jobs a lot easier," said Captain Alexander.

Police say they discovered the meth lab thanks to a tip from an anonymous caller.

Police arrested four people at the scene, 33-year-old Cody Allen, 27-year-old Jared Lamb, Kenneth Kerner and 24-year-old Caroline Siedlik.

Hazmat crews were able to clean the scene.

"The difference in this one is someone, even though it was an anonymous caller, they took the time out, observed something that didn't seem right to them, they called police which is completely appropriate, what they should have done," said Captain Alexander.

Police are thankful to have received the call, otherwise they say this meth lab bust might have had a different ending.

"We were able to get it before it became that fire that killed somebody," said Captain Alexander.

Officers say if you're in a similar situation and suspect something wrong is going on in your neighborhood, call police.

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