ITHACA, N.Y. –– While responding to a larceny on Tuesday, officers from the Ithaca Police Department discovered evidence of an active meth cook, triggering the lock down of an Elmira Road business.
At about 11:30 a.m., IPD responded to a larceny in progress at the Ithaca Wal-Mart. When law enforcement arrived the subject ran into another nearby retail business, changed his clothes and ran out, leaving a suitcase inside the store.
Items inside the suitcase led police to believe they had found an active one-pot style methamphetamine lab.
Officers coordinated with the business to shut down so that the situation could be properly handled.
Members of the New York State Police Contaminated Crime Scene Emergency Response Team (CCERT) were called, and arrived on scene at about 1:45 p.m., and confirmed that the items in the suitcase were part of an active meth cook.
“CCERT is currently processing evidence and working to make the scene safe. This process is expected to last until at least 4:30 p.m. today. All businesses in the area are still open and accessible,” a statement from IPD says.
The investigation is ongoing and IPD says no further information will be released until an arrest is made.