Odor Leads Detectives to Alleged Meth Lab

A strong, chemical odor reported by a neighbor led Dorchester County deputies to uncover a "good sized" methamphetamine manufacturing laboratory inside a Ladson townhome Thursday. 

Dorchester County Sheriff's Office PIO Maj. John Garrison described the lab as "substantial" and "a good sized lab." 

"This one was not your typical two-jar lab," Garrison said. "The bigger the lab is, the more meth you produce."

As deputies entered the townhouse on Hickory Lane Thursday, the first suspect showed them cleaning chemicals and said the smell was from the Chlorox just used to clean the home. A second suspect was found lying on the bathroom floor with severe lacerations to his wrists, according to the incident report. 

The first suspect has been detained but has not received charges as of Friday morning, and the second suspect was transported to the hospital. Both are expected to face charges of manufacturing methamphetamine, but since charges are pending, their names have been withheld from this story.