Police Bust Suspected Meth Lab in Cape May County: Prosecutor

Two Cape May County men have been charged with first-degree maintaining or operating a controlled dangerous substance production facility after police raided a suspected meth lab last week, Cape May County Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor and Lower Township Police Chief William Mastriana said on Thursday.

John Matthews, 26, and Nick Alexander, 24, both from the Villas section of Lower Township, were charged after police found Matthews suffering from obvious burns to his face and hands from what he said were chemicals while responding to a home in the Villas on Wednesday.

Additional responding officers allegedly saw Alexander running from the scene, and detained him.

An investigation revealed Matthews and Alexander were allegedly producing methamphetamine inside the residence. Police then notified the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Gang, Guns and Narcotics Task Force (GGNTF).

Members of the GGNTF and the Lower Township Detective Division along with Special Methamphetamine lab processing technicians from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Jersey State Police subsequently executed a court-ordered search warrant of the house, where they allegedly found items and equipment used to produce methamphetamine and an amount of suspected methamphetamine.

The Cape May County Hazmat Team also responded and assisted at the scene.

Matthews and Alexander were lodged in the Cape May County Correctional Facility in lieu of $300,000 full cash bail.