A Los Angeles man was scheduled to appear in court today for
allegedly possessing the makings of a methamphetamine lab in the
trunk of his car, police said.
Glendale patrol officers stopped Robert Barnes, 39, for a
malfunctioning brake light Sunday, and discovered he was previously
arrested by Glendale Police for felony evading two years ago when he
led officers in a pursuit on a motorcycle, Glendale Police vice
narcotics investigator Manny Fernandez said.
Officers searched Barnes and found pH paper in his pocket,
according to reports. When they searched his car, officers found a
methamphetamine pipe and a dispenser believed to be used for
narcotics, the report said.
When officers searched Barnes' trunk, they found a can of acetone,
muriatic acid and charcoal lighter fluid -- all chemicals consistent
with the manufacture of methamphetamine, Fernandez said.
Officers also found a water bottle filled with an amber liquid
that later tested positive as methamphetamine that hadn't
crystallized into ice, Fernandez said.
Officers with the state Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement and the
Los Angeles County Haz-Mat team were called out to identify and take
away the contents of Barnes' trunk, reports said.
Barnes was being held Tuesday in lieu of $100,000 bail, Fernandez
said.
Darleene Barrientos
