Suspected Meth Lab in Palm Harbor Leads to 2 Arrests

Detectives went to a Palm Harbor home Tuesday intending to arrest two people who live there on drug charges, but they wound up discovering a suspected meth lab there — for a second time — which also led to the evacuation of nearby homes.

Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies visited the home at 2680 Peterborough Ct. in April, according to sheriff's office spokesperson Cecilia Barreda, when deputies responded to a 911 call about a man suspected of throwing chemicals at a woman inside the home. A hazmat crew was called to clean up the home after a deputy investigating the incident was sickened by a chemical odor thought to come from a meth lab.

Barreda says that evidence taken during that investigation found that chemicals inside the home were from a meth lab, which led to detectives to make a trip back to the home Tuesday to arrest Shiloh Sladon, 36, and Pamela Therrien, 42 on drug charges.

When arresting the pair, detectives asked Sladon if there was a meth lab in the home, and Sladon told them there was an active lab in a back room of the house, according to Barreda.

Deputies evacuated two homes next to the house containing the suspected meth lab and a home across the street as a precaution. A hazmat crew was called to dismantle the meth lab.

Both suspects were taken to a makeshift decontamination area across the street from the home, where their clothing was removed. Sladon and Therrien wore plastic ponchos as they were escorted by deputies to a waiting van. Sladon shouted profanities and spit at reporters on his way to the van.

Crime scene tape prevented people from entering Peterborough Court while hazmat crews worked inside the home. Neighbors watched from the street.

"It's scary," said Melissa Gonzalez. 

"I guess they want to fit into the quiet neighborhoods where there's families where they won't get noticed," said Maritva Colon. 

"What if something would have gone wrong, an explosion, a fire? What would happen then? It's like they don't care," said Colon.

Barreda says that neighbors had previously complained about possible drug activity at the house and garbage left outside the home.

Sladon and Therrien were each charged with manufacturing methamphetamine and trafficking in methamphetamine in connection with the discovery of the suspected meth lab in April. Barreda says additional charges could be filed against the pair in connection with the suspected meth lab found on Tuesday.

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• Deputies Discover Suspected Meth Lab Inside Home