Casper PD Busts Rolling Meth Lab; CY Avenue Traffic Returned To Normal [VIDEO]
UPDATE (12:30 p.m.): Traffic has returned to normal on CY Avenue.
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Hazardous Material units from the Casper Fire Department have been deployed on the 2800 block of CY Avenue.
They are there to help the Casper Police Department, who made a traffic stop at 3:11 a.m. Monday morning. The vehicle which was stopped allegedly contained both methamphetamine and a meth lab.
The westbound lane of CY Avenue was shut down in areas between Fairgrounds and Kit Carson, but reopened at roughly 12:30 p.m. Traffic has returned to normal on CY Avenue.
Two people were arrested: 37-year-old Jason Hays of Florida and 40-year-old Megan Schwabel of North Dakota.
According to the Natrona County Detention Center's inmate roster, Hays was booked on recommended charges of meth possession as a third or subsequent offense -- which makes it a felony charge -- and operating a clandestine meth lab.
Schwabl's recommended charges are driving with a suspended license, meth possession as a third or subsequent offense, having an open alcohol container in a vehicle, no insurance, a registration violation and operating a clandestine meth lab.
Police say the pair will likely make their initial appearances in Natrona County Circuit Court on Tuesday.
The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation, and federal resources are coming from Denver to collect chemicals and hazardous material.
DCI Commander Matt Waldock says DCI agents are working to execute search warrants in connection with the incident. He says the regional response team was called in after agents came to the same conclusion as police officers: that the stopped vehicle contained a clandestine meth lab.
"[The regional response team] helps us as far as the chemical hazards, that type of stuff," Waldock said.
Sgt. Joey Wilhelm of the Casper Police Department says there is no threat to public safety in connection with the incident.