Meth Lab Bust Hits Close to Home

Friday’s methamphetamine drug bust in a quiet Crestwood neighborhood has left at least one neighbor with unanswered questions.

The 700 block of Fieldcrest was abuzz Friday when approximately 12 houses were evacuated due to a meth lab bust around 11:30 a.m. Police officers were standing in the street while undercover drug officers suited up in Haz-Mat gear and oxygen tanks entered the house.

Janice Herrmann, the next door neighbor, has lived on Fieldcrest for 2 ½ years. She saw propane tanks and bags being removed from the house.

“I went out in the morning and there was police tape in the yard,” Hermann said. “I asked them what was going on and they said they couldn’t say, that it was an investigation.” 

The tanks, bags, boxed and bottles were taken to an off-site location in Franklin County to be discarded, and neighbors were evacuated for about 3 hours because officials were concerned about chemicals coming from the house.

Fieldcrest, which dead ends in a cul-de-sac, also was blocked off at the corner of Fournier. 

While police officers were standing in the street, the suspect drove by and tried to run them over. Police caught him and recovered a handgun they believe he threw out the window. The suspect now faces second-degree assault charges and remains in the St. Louis County jail.

“I’m glad he’s in jail. I don’t think anyone had a clue,” Herrmann said. “They were renters—certainly not unfriendly.”

Herrmann previously called the city regarding trash that was piling up in the suspect’s yard. She didn’t think they had trash service. Now she sees furniture and bags being cleared out and wonders if the entire house will need to be stripped due to the chemicals.

“We own our houses; we’re not going to put up with this. Property value is taking a hit anyway in this economy,” Herrmann said. “You don’t need an absentee landlord. I know he (the landlord) isn’t like that. That’s the house he grew up in.”

Police say they are waiting on test results before they can determine whether drug charges also will be filed.