By ALYSIA ANDREWS
Late Wednesday night two Orem residents were arrested for housing a illegal drug laboratory.
Ron Crowley, 39, and his wife Angela Crowley, 37, of Orem, have been charged for housing a methamphetamine lab.
An Adult Probation and Parole officer performed the normal check-up for Mr. Crowley when the officer suspected something was unusual and called the Major Crime Task Force. An officer responding to the call concluded the home had the components for a meth lab, said Lt. Stan Eggen of the Utah County Major Crime Task Force.
Because of the joint effort between the AP&P and the MCTF, they were able to seize the home, said Lt. Steve Clark of the Utah County Major Crime Task Force.
'Once we were sure it was a lab, we stopped and let the DEA come in,' Eggan said. 'That is the instruction we have always had from the DEA. The reason is because meth labs create so much toxic problems that the DEA are all geared up for those types of labs, like in E.T.'
During the investigation, the DEA collected evidence for the Crowley's trial.
Clark said the meth lab contained precursor chemicals and a small amount of finished methamphetamine. The substantial supply of glassware collected indicated the lab's potential of producing a large sum of methamphetamine.
'This was a full blown lab,' Clark said. 'He knew what he was doing. This is not just a one-time guy.'
Crowley appeared to be preparing to make another supply of drugs either that evening or the next day, and has been arrested previously on the same charges for 'cooking' up drugs in the same home the year before, Clark said.
The Crowleys may appear in court as soon as Friday or next week. Currently, they are being held without bond.
'The Major Crime Task Force averages about one drug bust per month,' Clark said. 'Meth labs are on the increase.'
Ephedrine is one major drug in producing home-made methamphetamine. This drug can be indirectly bought in items like No-Doz, Eggan said.
As for the Crowley home, a private clean up company will be hired to clean the home.
'Some of the problems with meth labs make it so we can't just have anyone go in and sweep them up,' said Dwight Hill, director of Division of Environmental Health of the Utah County Health Department. 'They do take a special agency to clean up.'
Hill posted the home to be condemned on Thursday morning.
The police department will file seizure of the home and e clean up will be at the expense of the State. Eventually, the house will be repainted, fixed up and sold, Clark said.