Mobile meth lab found during traffic stop on Siam Rd.

By Robert Sorrell

Investigators located a mobile meth lab in a vehicle stopped by police in a Siam church parking lot.

Deputy Billy Harrell of the Carter County Sheriff’s Department said on Thursday afternoon that he was responding with his lights and siren activated to a call about a man with a knife. A subject, identified as Travis A. Mizzell, 26, of 346 H. Heaton Road, pulled out in front of him in a 1994 Chevrolet 1500.

Harrell said the subject continued to drive in his lane, blocking him from going around. After about two to three minutes, Harrell said the man pulled over into the parking lot at Beck Mountain Baptist Church. The officer followed him into the parking lot to warn the driver and asked for his license. Mizzell said he did not have a license.

On Harrell’s request, officers from the CCSD’s Special Operations Unit responded on the possibility that the driver may possess drugs. Harrell told officers he found items believed to be components used to manufacture methamphetamine in a metal container sitting on the passenger seat.

Mizzell told officers a friend gave him the container and he was not aware of its contents.

The metal container contained a glass jar which had anhydrous ammonia in it, a glass lid which contained an unknown white powdery residue, a second glass jar which contained an unknown dark liquid and one syringe.

Underneath the seat, officers found a bottle containing iodized salt. A pair of latex gloves and two metal spoons with residue were found in the center console.

The Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force was called to the scene for clean-up and the vehicle was seized. Mizzell faces charges of initiating the process to manufacture methamphetamine, fail to yield to emergency vehicle, driving while revoked and financial responsibility.