Another meth lab found: Two jailed in latest 100 Oaks incident

Police reported finding a meth lab at 100 Oaks Apartments last Tuesday.

Damon Lawrence

Two people were arrested last week after police received a tip about a meth lab at 100 Oaks Apartments. It’s the second such incident in a month; in January, seven people were arrested in connection with a meth lab at the Rockwood apartment complex.

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That’s the same complex where police arrested seven people in connection with a lab last month.

Tuesday’s incident resulted in two arrests. James Christopher Lombardo, 33, and Arthur Lee Wilson, 47, are charged with promotion of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The apartment complex is at 900 E. Wheeler St., Rockwood.

According to a Roane County Sheriff’s Office report, a Rockwood police officer received a tip about a meth lab in one of the apartments.

“Mr. Lombardo gave verbal consent for deputies to search the apartment,” the report said. “The initial search revealed numerous packs of lithium batteries, numerous hypodermic needles, scales, spoons with residue and a large black footlocker.”

The report said numerous items associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine was found in the footlocker, including Coleman fuel, coffee filters, ammonium nitrate, lithium batteries, rubber tubing, propane, latex gloves and plant fertilizer.

Police also reported finding a white powder, which they suspect was methamphetamine, inside the locker. It was sent to the TBI Crime Lab for analysis.

“A truck from the Tennessee Methamphetamine and Pharmaceutical Task Force was already on scene from a previous unrelated lab discovery at the same apartment complex earlier in the day,” the report said.

Roane County Sheriff’s Deputy John Mayes said that lab was discovered in some woods behind the apartment complex.

The circumstances were still being investigated, Mayes said.