MOBILE METH LAB HARBORS DEADLY GAS

Officer Notices Suspicious Odor During Vehicle Investigation

Hood River County Detective Gerry Tiffany quickly backed away from his
search of a mobile methamphetamine lab on Wednesday after getting a whiff
of deadly gas.

The unmistakable odor of Anhydrous Ammonia followed his discovery of a
propane tank in the trunk of a vehicle that had been impounded two days
earlier. He said because the tank was not intended to hold the chemical
commonly used as a fertilizer, the fittings of the container had corroded
and it had begun to leak.

It was like a bomb waiting to go off, said Tiffany, who immediately called
in help from the Mid-Columbia Interagency Narcotics Taskforce because he
did not know what other items the trunk held.

While waiting for the MINT members, who are the certified responders to
scenes involving drug chemicals, the area around the county shops off 18th
Street was cordoned off by the Hood River Fire Department. Sheriff Joe
Wampler also ordered the evacuation of a nearby house and church located
downwind from the vehicle.

Officer Dan Nelson from The Dalles City Police Department and Chris McNeel,
a Wasco County deputy, then suited up in biohazard gear and headed into the
restricted area. The ending to the drama was anti-climatic as they
carefully placed the tank into a barrel of water for cushioning so that
Wampler could transport it to an unpopulated area and shoot it to free the
gas trapped inside. No further chemicals were found during a subsequent
search of the vehicle although the identity of two suspects was recovered.

On Monday, Tiffany found the first part of the box lab in a plastic bag
that had been dumped near the car after four occupants, three men and one
woman, fled from police. He said the incident began when the 1991 four-door
Oldsmobile crashed into a row of hedges at the Columbia Gorge Hotel about
5:45 that morning.

Both county and city law enforcement officers responded to the call from a
hotel employee that the sedan had been used in an attempt to steal a
mountain bike from the parking lot. By the time police arrived, the driver
and three passengers had left the area. Garry Lynn Bauman, 28, of Salem was
later arrested just west of Ruthton Park after officers noted that he
matched a witness description of one suspect.

According to reports, Bauman admitted to being a passenger in the car
although he denied knowing any of the other occupants or the owner, also
from Salem. He was lodged in NORCOR and charged with possession of a
controlled substance after two bindles of meth were found in his backpack.
While attempting to locate the identification of the other occupants,
officers found other drug paraphernalia and meth residue inside the car.

However, because the trunk was locked, Tiffany had to wait until Wednesday
to obtain the necessary search warrant to examine its contents.

An investigation is underway and the case has been turned over to Hood
River County District Attorney John Sewell. On Thursday, Sewell said the
identity of two suspects has been confirmed but they and the third unknown
individual remain at large. He said the two fugitives join Bauman and the
owner of the vehicle who cannot be reached for questioning in a long
criminal history of drug-related crimes.

Tiffany said the new trend among meth manufacturers is to have labs that
operate out of vehicles. He said that methodology is now preferred because
it is easily movable and can be put together for little money from items
that are readily available at any discount store.

He said other motorists are then placed in peril in the event of an
accident because the gas has an extended danger zone.

If there is a wreck and the container is punctured then anyone within 160
yards could be affected, Tiffany said.