Muskogee authorities find around 70 meth labs inside house

MUSKOGEE, Okla. - Authorities made a dangerous discovery in the middle of a Muskogee neighborhood Monday morning. 

After serving a search warrant, police and deputies found about 70 meth labs in and around a home on North 18th Street.

Brandon Jackson, 31, and 22-year-old Sylvia Starr were arrested on charges of endeavoring to manufacture a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony.

Mike Grace with the Muskogee County Sheriff's Office says the findings were the result of a two- to three-week investigation.

Grace said the labs were all throughout the property, in the 400 block of North 18th Street in Muskogee. A rifle was also found.

Grace said there is no longer any danger as authorities dismantled the labs sometime after the suspects' arrests.

Cleon Nelson lives right next door to the house where police found dozens of shake and bake meth labs. He says he's seen suspicious activity there before.

"It was surprising, but it wasn't surprising. Because I knew sooner or later something was going to happen," Nelson said.

But he never expected this.

"That kind of blew my mind. I don't know what's considered a lot, but to me, I think that's a lot," Nelson said.

It could have been a dangerous, even lethal mix of chemicals. Police say they tracked the suspects buying up a large amount of pseudoephedrine at local stores.

That, along with anonymous tips, led them to search the house. Conditions inside are so unsafe, city officials have condemned the house.

It's a win for police now -- but they say the fight against meth is far from over.

"It's an ongoing process. It's a never ending battle with the meth labs," said Sgt. Peter Liimatta with Muskogee Police.