‘Rolling Meth Lab’ Stopped in Manchester, Three Arrested

The suspects who were allegedly operating a ‘rolling meth lab’ in Ocean County. (Photos: Ocean County Jail)

A traffic stop led to the discovery of what police described as a “rolling meth lab” in Manchester.

A report of a suspicious vehicle parked on a township street prompted officers to investigate a suspicious white van which was parked in a wooded area near the 2000 block of Larchmont Street in the Pine Lake Park section. The vehicle in question, which had left the scene, was located by an officer and stopped. Shortly thereafter, it was learned that the vehicle was displaying license plates that had been reported stolen in Berkeley County, S.C.

During the course of the investigation, officers located several items within the van that were consistent with the manufacturing of crystal methamphetamine, a highly addictive drug which creates a devastating dependence that can only be relieved by taking more of it. The drug, which is more common in the south and the west coast than New Jersey, was the subject of the hit TV show “Breaking Bad.”

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Due to the potential volatility of some of the components involved in the manufacturing process of crystal meth, the items of concern were removed from the vehicle and placed a safe distance away. The New Jersey State Police Hazardous Materials Response Unit, the Berkeley Township Hazmat team, and the Ocean County Prosecutors Office Arson Unit were contacted and responded to the scene to assist with the identification of the materials and to render them safe.

As a precaution, one residence was evacuated until the scene was deemed safe and Middlesex Street was closed between Sixth and Seventh Avenue for approximately five hours. Once the van and its contents were rendered safe, it was seized for further investigation.

The operator of the vehicle, 30-year-old, Demetrius Kiprakis, of Goose Greek, S.C., was charged with first degree manufacturing of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a hypodermic syringe, and possession of stolen property. He was lodged in Ocean County Jail in default of $410,000 bail.

Another occupant of the vehicle, Bryan Sahlin, 29, of Middlesex Street in Manchester, was charged with first degree manufacturing of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a hypodermic syringe. He was also lodged at the Ocean County Jail in default of $410,000 bail.

An additional occupant of the vehicle, Roseanna Fox, 57, of Toms River was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, distribution/manufacturing of drug paraphernalia, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a hypodermic syringe. She was lodged at the Ocean County Jail in default of $85,000 bail.