Two area men are facing drug charges in separate incidents after Washington County authorities seized chemicals and other items related to the manufacture of methamphetamines early Sunday morning.
The first incident began shortly after midnight when agents with the Major Crimes Task Force received information from an undisclosed source that an individual was using meth at a residence in Vincent, according to Major Brian Schuck with the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
"The task force responded to the Vincent home and located several bottles that are used as 'gas generators' in the 'shake and bake' method of manufacturing meth," Schuck said. "Two-liter soda bottles are often used, and the method is highly dangerous because the chemicals can explode."
The resident, Travis Cunningham, 27, of 9552 State Route 550, Vincent, was arrested on felony warrants for burglary and failure to appear in Meigs and Athens counties.
He was taken to the Southeast Ohio Regional Jail in Nelsonville.
Sheriff Larry Mincks said the case will be forwarded to the Washington County prosecutor's office for presentation to a grand jury.
The second incident took place around 3:30 a.m. Sunday.
"We were just completing the investigation in Vincent when the second call came in," Schuck said. "The sheriff's office received a call about some altercation occurring at a home on Veto Road."
He said Michael A. Bowers, 36, of 1405 Elm St., Parkersburg, was visiting an acquaintance at a home on Veto Road and asked if he could cook some meth up at her home.
The resident refused and phoned the sheriff's office.
Schuck said investigators found items used to manufacture meth in Bowers' backpack.
"He had pseudophedrine, lithium batteries and a bottle," he said. "Officers had to call the Marietta Fire Department to assist and deactivate the chemicals, which can ignite and explode simply by being exposed to moisture."
Schuck said Bowers was uncooperative and resisted arrest when deputies tried to handcuff him.
"He had to be tasered before we could take him in," Schuck said.
Bowers was charged with a third-degree felony offenses of illegal assembly of drug-making chemicals as well as with misdemeanor charges of criminal trespassing and resisting arrest.
Bowers remains in the Washington County Jail on $17,000 bond.
