Claysburg Man Accused of Operating Meth Lab

A Claysburg man is behind bars after the discovery of drug paraphernalia in his garage led police to a suspected meth lab.

According to charges filed by Greenfield Township police, on Sept. 7, police were called to a home along Canine Trail, Claysburg, when the home's owner discovered what she suspected to be drug paraphernalia.

According to police, the homeowner was cleaning out the garage when she found a bench with plastic bottles, batteries that were cut open, drain cleaner and other plastic bottles with a white substance on them. Police said there was also cold compress packs cut open to remove the sodium nitrate and a box of pseudo ephedrine cold medicine. Police said all the items are used to manufacture methamphetamine using the "one pot" method.

The homeowner told police that Robert C. Black, 51, uses the garage.

After securing the scene, the State Police Clandestine Team was called in to investigate and remove the items. Police said along with the batteries, cold medicine, and plastic jugs, they seized 19 partial suspected one pot vessels, lithium stripping, four liquid lighting drain cleaner, numerous bottles of camp fuel and two bottles of lye.

Police said the most common method of manufacturing methamphetamine in the area is by using the "one pot method" where ingredients from the confiscated items are used with other chemicals to produce the drug.

Black was arrested on felony charges of possession with intent to deliver, possession with intent to manufacture, and operating a methamphetamine lab, as well as a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Black was arraigned by Martinsburg Magisterial District Judge Andrew Blattenberger and committed to the Blair County Prison on $50,000 cash bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6 in front of Blattenberger.