Police find another mobile meth lab, two more arrests

Two teenagers were arrested late Monday after police made a traffic stop and found a mobile meth lab in the car.

An officer patrolling a rural area of Cedar Rapids around 11 p.m. noticed “suspicious activity” inside a car traveling near the intersection of Old River Road and Cedar Bend Lane SW and initiated the traffic stop, according to a police report. The officer smelled chemicals and conducted a search.

“Upon further investigation, he located what appeared to be a meth lab and meth-making materials,” Lt. Kenneth Washburn said.

The officer also discovered the driver, Blake C. Stark, 18, of Cedar Rapids, had an active arrest warrant and was driving with a suspended license.

Stark and the lone passenger in the car, Jessica D. Chamberlain, 19, of Palo, were charged with manufacturing methamphetamine. Stark was also charged with possession of prescription drugs. They were taken to the Linn County Jail, where they remained Tuesday afternoon. A judge set bond at $20,000 in each case.

It was the third mobile meth lab discovered by Cedar Rapids police in the last 10 days, and second found in 36 hours. Most recently, officers arrested Jonathan Jordan, 23, Sunday afternoon when they found the remnants of a meth lab following a slow-speed chase.