Crime & Safety

Meth Lab Incident Details Outlined

Man who caused evacuation of Lower Macungie neighborhood on Sept. 27 admitted his drug manufacturing activities to law enforcement officials, trooper says.

The Lower Macungie Township man who police say caused his residential neighborhood to be evacuated Sept. 27 while preparing to dispose of chemicals from the methamphetamine lab he ran out of his home remains in jail unable to post bail.

Jeffrey Lee Miller Jr., 34, of 5457 Hartford Court has been in Lehigh County Prison under $500,000 bail on charges including causing a catastrophe and recklessly endangering another person, according to court documents. Other charges include intention to possess a controlled substance, manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver; use or possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of red phosphorous and other chemicals with intent to manufacture controlled substances.

Township firefighters were called to a house fire at the address about 4:55 a.m. Sept. 27. Firefighters quickly recognized a potential criminal situation when they arrived and notified state police. Despite there not being a fire out of control, a hazardous situation remained because of the volatile chemicals. Eleven residences in the Indian Creek Village Mobile Home Park were evacuated. Most of the 15 evacuated residents were permitted to return by 9:15 a.m. The rest returned by 11:30.

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The following details of the arrest are contained in the  Affidavit of Probable Cause filed by Trooper Barton Josefowicz of state police at Fogelsville:

Miller told Josefowicz that he was attempting to dispose of chemicals to manufacture methamphetamine when they ignited. Miller was advised of his Constitutional rights but spoke to troopers anyway and waived legal counsel.

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He admitted that he manufactured methamphetamine and stored chemicals, devices and waste products underneath his home. He said he was getting rid of some materials and intended to take the items in his truck to Hellertown, where he would meet with his sister's boyfriend and dispose of the materials in the garbage truck that the man would be operating. While moving these items, the chemicals reacted to each other and ignited.

Miller said he "had everything needed to cook meth." He said he possessed methamphetamine, packaging materials for the sale of methamphetamine and several devices used to manufacture methamphetamine.

Josefowicz received the consent of homeowner Stephanie Marie Miller, resident Donna Marie Miller and Jeffrey Miller to search the interior and exterior of the home. The search produced chemicals, paraphernalia, heating fuels and an unidentified white powdery substance. These were seized from the defendant's bedroom, under the exterior of the residence and his truck bed.


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