Police have made an arrest after discovering a methamphetamine lab operating out of a home located at 1080 Loudon Road.
Miguel A. Manriquez, 23, was arrested by Colonie police on March 14 for allegedly being in connection with a meth lab, after responding to a call about a small trash fire behind the residence, which the Boght Fire Department did extinguish on March 12.
Patrol Officer Anthony Riccitelli did observe suspicious behavior coming from the residents and suspicious items near the trash fire during his investigation, which led to another investigation by the Colonie Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the New York State Police. The investigation revealed that a meth lab was located on the premises.
A search warrant was issued on March 14 and executed, confirming the presence of a meth lab and resulted in the seizure of almost six ounces of methamphetamine. According to the DEA, this is the second known meth lab in Albany County.
Colonie Police Lieutenant Robert Winn said Manriquez lived in a walk out basement of a rental property with a newborn three week old child, a two year old and a child between the ages of five and six, who was not present during the arrest, living on the first two floors.
There was no information that led police to believe Manriquez, a maintenance worker at the Burger King located on Route 9 in Latham, was dealing the substance, Winn said, but added that he was sharing it with friends.
He was making this primarily for his own use, Winn said. `He’s giving it to some other people but he is not selling.`
Manriquez has been charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree and unlawful manufacturing of methamphetamine in the third degree, both of which are felonies, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.
Manriquez was arrested and arraigned in Colonie Justice Court and remanded to the Albany County Correctional Facility. He is set to appear in court on March 16 at 6 p.m. for a preliminary hearing.
Winn said there are no arrests currently pending but police will be interviewing other people believed to be involved.
`Can’t say for sure but there might be at least one other arrest of people who would have either been in possession or using this,` he said. `We do have indications had some help in the basement.`
Winn stressed that Colonie does not have a meth problem.
`We don’t believe we have a meth problem,` he said, echoing that this is only the second meth lab to be found in Albany County. `It’s something we have never seen before.`
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