Lafayette homes evacuated after police find meth lab

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) – Homes were evacuated and two men were arrested Monday night after ISP discovered an active meth lab on Lafayette’s south side.

It happened at a home on the 500 block of Duroc Court around 6:30 p.m. That’s near the intersection of Beck Lane and Poland Hill Road, across the railroad tracks from Armstrong Park.

“My daughter came in and told me there was a bunch of cops,” said neighbor Tasha Broderick.

Broderick is a mother of five. She said her Monday evening was disrupted when Lafayette police swarmed her neighborhood.

“I saw them put them in handcuffs and put them in the car,” said Broderick.

Lafayette police said they got a call from a man who was the son of the woman who lives there. They were told there was something going on that they needed to look into.

“We got out here. We could smell the strong chemical odor, coming from the house. We made contact with the homeowner, who was not at home. She gave us permission to go in,” said Ofc. Aaron Dobrin. “One guy came out to us and we found another guy, hiding in a closet.”

Dobrin says one of the men taken into custody was another son, 29-year-old John Wright. The man other was a friend, 24-year-old Zackery Schulz. Dobrin said they are suspected of making meth, forcing LPD to call in the meth suppression team.

“Based on some of the things that were seen in the house, the state police was requested to come in,” said Dobrin.

The two men face preliminary charges of manufacturing methamphetamine and resisting law enforcement. Schulz was also wanted on a warrant.

Even with the two men in custody, the idea of having an active meth lab in her neighborhood is scary for Broderick.

“It’s kind of scary because I’ve never been through it before,” said Broderick.

The neighbors were evacuated until the meth suppression team could get on scene. After ISP arrived on scene, police began allowing them back into their homes.