Meth lab indicators and officer safety

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Topics & Tactics for Law Enforcement with Scott Buhrmaster

Last week's PoliceOne report of two major fire and house explosions in Kansas City has yielded questions related to the volatility of meth lab settings.

Although PoliceOne is aware of no investigatory indication that the Kansas City situation has any relation to drug activity, the sudden and extreme explosions that disintegrated these structures conjures up images of the kind of explosive results that volatile meth labs can have. With that in mind, we felt it an appropriate time to share some insights into how officers can determine whether they're faced with a meth lab setting, and some do's and don'ts related to officer safety at meth labs.

The chemicals used in the manufacture of methamphetamine pose extreme dangers to law enforcement officers in the form of explosive potential, physiological harm resulting from exposure and combative confrontations with highly agitated, unpredictable users.

With the increasing popularity of meth, the ease at which it can be made, and the continued reports of clandestine labs appearing in a wide variety of, and unexpected locations, across the country, it is crucial that officers remain alert to the possibility that an encounter with a drug lab is a very real possibility in law enforcement today, regardless of your area of patrol.

With that said, here are some things to watch for.

Approaching the scene: Exterior signs

First, remember that meth labs can and do surface virtually anywhere, not just in homes. Labs can be quickly assembled and disassembled and can be established in nearly any setting, from a motel room or abandoned building to inside a van or other spacious vehicle (often referred to as a "mobile meth labs"). The presence of the indicators listed below during traffic stops or in settings other than a typical home-like structure can also serve as strong indication of a possible meth production environment.

As you approach a scene, whether it be for a drug-related reason or otherwise, watch for these meth lab indicators:

• Strong chemical odors in the area, often described as smelling like cat urine, ammonia or nail polish remover.
• Windows heavily covered/blacked out and signs of fortification (i.e., bars on windows and / or heavily protected doors)
• Signs of chemical containers and chemical waste around the exterior. Some of the chemicals commonly found at lab sites are Anhydrous Ammonia, Red Phosphorus, Denatured Alcohol, Hydrogen Chloride, Muriatic/Hydrochloric Acid, Toluene, Ether, common paint thinner, and Epsom. Look for containers bearing these kinds of labels. Side note: Anhydrous Ammonia is an agricultural fertilizer. Watch for farmers reporting thefts of this chemical.
• Signs of trip wires or other mechanisms that can be rigged to alert people inside that someone is approaching.
• Propane tanks with bent or tampered valves
• Look for an unusual number of discarded over-the-counter cold medicine packages from medications which contain decongestants.
• An abnormally large collection of anti-freeze containers, drain cleaner bottles, lithium batteries, and car starter fluid containers.
• A noticeable build-up of cigarette butts outside a residence, or other signs that people may be leaving the building to smoke. This can be a clear sign that smoking inside is dangerous due to explosive nature of the chemical fumes.
• Signs that electricity has been inexplicably run to a seemingly abandoned building.

Inside
Once inside, look for signs of the chemicals listed above and take note of chemical odors.

Also watch for

• Signs of chemical staining on bathroom and kitchen fixtures.
• Red chemically stained coffee filters
• Glass lab ware
• Police scanners and other signs of counter-surveillance
• Breathing apparatus
• Protective goggles
• Protective lab-type clothing
• Plastic tubing
• Glass jars
• Cooking bowls with white powder or residue

Meth labs are highly volatile areas that can very quickly turn explosive. Although you may not see a complete lab set-up, remaining alert to seemingly small indicators of a lab in the area can be life-saving.

Once you suspect that you have surfaced a lab setting, here are some things
NOT TO DO:

• Do not smoke or allow anyone in the area to smoke.
• Do not open or move any chemical containers.
• Do not touch any unknown substances with your bare skin.
• Do not smell the contents of ANY container.
• Do not use your firearm inside if at all possible. Firing inside a lab can result in explosion. Should signs of a potential armed encounter surface, quickly look for opportunities to safely exit the area before gunfire can erupt, then establish an appropriate perimeter outside the building.
• Do not plug in or unplug any electric devices.
• Do not flip light switches.
• If involved with photographing evidence, do not use standard flashbulbs. Instead use special photographic strobe equipment that has no possibility of generating any type of spark.
• Remain aware of activities that may generate friction (i.e., using friction-producing tools) and refrain from them.
• If you feel any signs of difficulty breathing, dizziness, confusion or burning of the skin, lungs or other mucous membranes, do not stay in the area. Leave immediately and seek medical advice/treatment promptly.

Intelligence gathering from people in the area

Neighbors in the area and those familiar with the building which is suspect to housing a meth lab can yield valuable intelligence. Some of the kinds of information you can glean from those in the know:

• Landlords who get paid in cash. The drug business is typically run with cash-based transactions.
• Information on heavy foot and vehicular traffic to the location, particularly at night.
• Information on strange chemical odors in the area.
• Notice of lab ware and chemical containers being brought to and removed from the location.
• Information on strange behaviors of those who live at or frequent the scene, like violent outbursts, no noticeable hours of sleep, demonstration of noticeably anxious or paranoid behavior, etc.

• Agitation
• Excited speech
• Inability to stay still
• Paranoia
• Signs of insomnia (users can go for many days without sleep. Asking, "When was the last time you slept?" may yield some valuable insight into the possibility that the individual is involved with meth.)
• Severe anxiety
• Confusion
• Irritability/nervousness
• "Pounding heart"
• Dry mouth
• Pupil dilation
• Gaunt appearance
• Signs of chemical burns from contact with caustic precursor chemicals and signs of burns on fingers suffered while covering a vent hole on a meth pipe.

If you find indications that a person may be using meth and you have reason to believe that he or she may be involved with its production, immediately treat the situation as though a lab is on site, even if you haven't found it yet. A strong dose of precaution can save your life.

Related PoliceOne report:

Over-the-counter medicine thefts increasing

Related story:

Kentucky town's battles with methamphetamine ensnare its police chief

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