3 Ashtabula County residents charged in connection with mobile meth lab found in Willoughby Hills

Three Ashtabula County residents each face a third-degree felony of illegal assembly or possession of chemicals that may be used for manufacture of drugs in Willoughby Hills. David E. Klein, 32, and Breesha L. Noffsinger, 28, both of 2411 Shadyside Drive, Ashtabula; and Stanley T. Smith, 51, of 1554 Black Sea Road in Jefferson; were arraigned Dec. 9 in Willoughby Municipal Court in connection to the charge.

Police arrested the group on Dec. 8 after police say they discovered a mobile meth lab in the car they were driving in. A Willoughby Hills patrolman pulled over the car about 2:30 p.m., on SOM Center Road for a traffic violation at the BP gas station near the Interstate 90 interchange, said Willoughby Hills Police Sgt. Matt Naegele.

The officer called for a canine unit, which alerted police that there was something inside the vehicle, Naegele said. Willoughby Hills Police then opened the trunk and found a “mobile meth lab,” Naegele said. The Lake County Narcotic Agency was called to the scene to dismantle the lab. The agency has now taken over the investigation.

No traffic was rerouted during the “couple of hours” authorities were there, Naegele said, however the gas station was closed off.

Fire departments from Willoughby Hills, Wickliffe and Willoughby also responded.

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