CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Emergency cleanup crews boarded up a room at the Motel 6 in Cross Lanes after authorities arrested three people for allegedly operating a methamphetamine lab out of the hotel.

Detective V. Armstrong of the Metro Drug Unit said officers got an anonymous tip that someone was making methamphetamine in a room at the Motel 6 just off of the Cross Lanes exit of Interstate 64. He said he and Detective K. Shank asked the room's inhabitants if they could check inside.

Armstong said they found chemicals, glassware, tubing and other components used for making meth, and what they believed to be meth residue in a plastic bag. Armstrong said the occupants also disabled the smoke detector in the room so it wouldn't go off while they allegedly cooked the drug.

Detectives arrested Donny Kyle Ray, 38, of St. Albans; Rebecca Walker, 31, of Charleston; and Joseph Strickland, 29, hometown unavailable. All three were charged Thursday with operating a clandestine drug lab, Armstrong said.

After the lab was found, Armstrong said the motel room was boarded up and cleanup crews were called in.

Staff at the Motel 6 said one other room besides the meth-contaminated room was closed, but the rest of the motel's rooms were open as usual.

Walker was being held at South Central Regional Jail on Thursday in lieu of $25,000 bond. Strickland was at the jail in lieu of $10,000 bond. Bond for Ray had apparently not been set on Thursday afternoon.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1215.

 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Emergency cleanup crews boarded up a room at the Motel 6 in Cross Lanes after authorities arrested three people for allegedly operating a methamphetamine lab out of the hotel.

Detective V. Armstrong of the Metro Drug Unit said officers got an anonymous tip that someone was making methamphetamine in a room at the Motel 6 just off of the Cross Lanes exit of Interstate 64. He said he and Detective K. Shank asked the room's inhabitants if they could check inside.

Armstong said they found chemicals, glassware, tubing and other components used for making meth, and what they believed to be meth residue in a plastic bag. Armstrong said the occupants also disabled the smoke detector in the room so it wouldn't go off while they allegedly cooked the drug.

Detectives arrested Donny Kyle Ray, 38, of St. Albans; Rebecca Walker, 31, of Charleston; and Joseph Strickland, 29, hometown unavailable. All three were charged Thursday with operating a clandestine drug lab, Armstrong said.

After the lab was found, Armstrong said the motel room was boarded up and cleanup crews were called in.

Staff at the Motel 6 said one other room besides the meth-contaminated room was closed, but the rest of the motel's rooms were open as usual.

Walker was being held at South Central Regional Jail on Thursday in lieu of $25,000 bond. Strickland was at the jail in lieu of $10,000 bond. Bond for Ray had apparently not been set on Thursday afternoon.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1215.