Apparent meth lab found at Hiawatha mobile home

HIAWATHA, Iowa - Police said a man was in the process of making methamphetamine inside a Hiawatha mobile home when an officer on routine patrol drove past.

Shane L. LaGrange, 28, of Hiawatha, was arrested Tuesday morning on several drug charges, after police found him with an active meth lab inside 151 Tiki Terrace.

Hiawatha Police Chief Dennis Marks said it was around 1:20 a.m. when the officer smelled an overpowering chemical odor in the Bali Hai Estates mobile home park. Officers were able to determine where the smell was coming from, but could not get close.

“It was too strong for the officers to stay anywhere near the trailer,” Marks said.

An officer had a brief conversation with LaGrange from a distance, but LaGrange went back inside the home and tried to flee from a rear exit, Marks said. By that time, another officer was waiting there, and took LaGrange into custody.

LaGrange was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of amphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and interference with official acts. He was taken to the Linn County Jail.

Marks said LaGrange listed an address just around the corner at the mobile home park, at 95 Boca Chica Dr.

Unsure if anyone else was inside, and without a search warrant, officers broke several windows of the mobile home, to allow ventilation inside. Marks said the precautionary step needed to be taken, because there were areas of the home that couldn't be seen from the outside.

“You don't know that there's not a kid sleeping in the bedroom back there,” Marks said.

Police later obtained the search warrant and found chemicals used to make meth, including several cans of starting fluid inside the mobile home. Bottles, tubes and other canisters were also seized.

LaGrange was the only one inside the residence, and no one was injured, police said. An investigation was continuing.