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Meth lab busted in Sullivan County mobile home park
UPDATE: Cynthia Baumgardner, 44, suspected of running a meth lab out of a mobile home, is charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, maintaining a dwelling where narcotics are used, stored or sold, possession of schedule III narcotics, possession of schedule VI drugs.
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Police busted an alleged meth lab in a Sullivan County mobile home park Thursday where neighbors said they sometimes wouldn’t let their children outside due to an overwhelming scent of chemicals in the air.
About 1:30 p.m., Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office deputies descended on the suspect’s home in Roller Hill Park, 327 Deck Valley Road, near Bristol. The double-wide mobile home, Lot No. 13 in Section B, sits on a hill above other residences.
SCSO Capt. Keith Elton said officers went to the home to serve an arrest warrant against Cynthia Baumgardner, 44, for failure to appear in court on a charge of driving on a revoked license.
While there, one of the officers saw what appeared to be a methamphetamine lab in the kitchen area of the mobile home.
Baumgardner was arrested on the failure to appear charge and taken to the Sullivan County Jail.
Elton said the investigation is continuing, and additional charges are expected.
Neighbors watched as events unfolded Thursday and agreed to interviews, but said they did not want to be identified for fear of reprisals.
“I’ve said I’d like to set up a toll booth and charge people to get up the driveway,” said one neighbor of the traffic to and from the home at all hours of the day and night. “We’ve watched five or six cars go up in 10 or 15 minutes.”
“It’s about time they stopped this,” said another neighbor who sat on a lawn chair, filming authorities filing up and down the driveway. “It’s gone on too long.”
Neighbors relayed alleged incidents when the suspect’s visitors wrecked their cars trying to descend the steep driveway, or drove through their lawns.
One neighbor reported alerting the park’s landlord of suspicious activity on several occasions, but did not call police.
“About once a week she would go up (to the home) with a truck full of barrels...” said one man.
“She said the barrels helped weigh (the truck down) and get up the drive,” added another neighbor, with a roll of the eyes.
“She asked me to take her to the pharmacy and I said, ‘Hell no.’”
Sullivan County Animal Control also responded to the scene. According to residents of the park, the woman owned “six or seven” dogs.
About four hours into deconstruction and cleanup of the site, a man and woman arrived. They asked EMS personnel if they could take the suspect’s dogs but were told to contact the animal shelter.
Several agencies responded to investigate, secure and then clean up the location. Responders included SCSO vice and narcotics officers, Kingsport Police Department HazMat, Sullivan County EMS, Sullivan County Volunteer Fire Department and the Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force.
Sullivan County fire and rescue personnel said the home and law enforcement who entered it, as well as the suspect, would have to be decontaminated before leaving the scene.
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Fair enough Brad. LOL. You got me on that one.
You had me breathing into a paper bag.
When they said the suspect had to be decontaminated, my first thought was of the fire department with hose in hand. Sorry, but I have no empathy for those who manufacturer this crap. Sounds like the landlord turned a blind-eye to the whole deal as well. Shame on him. But since I doubt that double-wide will ever be fit to rent again and I feel fairly sure his insurance isn't going to cover "unlawful" acts, I guess he is paying a fairly hefty price.
Okay so I was thinking more along the lines of: A meth lab in a trailer park??? Are you kidding me? Surely you jest? Rather than Hawkins v. Sullivan County this time. Oh well there I go thinking out of the box again!
Being stupid around you Bob is fun because it's makes you nuts lol.
This is typical of a criminal...get caught doing something small such a a traffic violation and end up getting busted for something huge...lol...that just goes to show that criminals aren't exactly the smartest people!!!
For those keeping score at home....
Sullivan Co. - 1
Hawkins Co. - 0
Hey, I said give it a month. We shall revisit the scoreboard for knucklehead crime as things progress. Despite the early lead I still feel confident things will even out pretty soon.
On a side note... lack of spellcheck and poor grammar does not help your argument Brad. If you are going to perform your own self portrait then please don't acuse me of painting with a broad brush. Certainly the Hawkins Co. school system did a better job than that.
OMG quit whining meth is everywhere might want to check your back door before you judge someone else!
Touchy over the meth labs in your county Orange White? Much of this meth could easily make it to surrounding states and counties, so we don't need to keep our nose out of it!
I bet she wishes she kept her court appearance.
If you don't live in Sullivan co. then you probably need to keep your nose out of it!
Oh my gosh Bob Denette, what's going up up in that there Sullivan Co.?