Officers Seize Lexington Meth Lab

Officers with the Lexington County Multi-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET) seized a clandestine methamphetamine lab on Tuesday and arrested five people, Lexington County Sheriff James Metts said. 

The lab was allegedly being operated at a home on Longview Street near Lexington, the sheriff said.

Arrested were: Brian Keith Benson, 33, of 115 Genesis Circle, West Columbia; Ernest Charles Lake, 50, of 623 Longview Street, Lexington; Cynthia Harsey Nantz, 54, of 623 Longview Street, Lexington; Tony Rosco, 37, of 664 Collum Pond Road, Wagener; and, Amber Nicole Stacy, 36, of 623 Longview Street, Lexington. Each were charged with manufacturing methamphetamine.

Benson, Lake, Nantz, Rosco and Stacy each were being held on Wednesday at the Lexington County Detention Center while awaiting bond hearings, Metts said.

According to a report, NET officers developed information that a clandestine meth lab was allegedly being operated at a home at 623 Longview Street, where Lake, Nantz and Stacy live, Metts said. 

Officers and Lexington County Sheriff’s Department deputies went to the home at about 8:53 p.m. on Tuesday and "detected a strong chemical odor that they recognized as an indicator that a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory was being operated on the property," Metts said.

Officers saw a black bag on the front porch of the Longview Street home that contained three reaction vessels, Metts said. Chemicals that are used to manufacture methamphetamine were stored in the three reaction vessels. Officers seized a small amount of methamphetamine, Metts said.

Benson, Lake, Nantz, Rosco and Stacy all were at the Longview Street home, standing near a camper in the home’s backyard, Metts said. Officers arrested all five individuals after determining that the three men and two women all were allegedly involved in operating the lab.