Police stumbled onto a large methamphetamine lab inside a Sandy motel room Friday while looking for a suspect in another crime.
Sandy detectives became suspicious after noticing a man in the parking lot of the Majestic Rockies Motel, 8901 S. State, who was shaking and reeked of chemicals.After talking to detectives, the man walked back to his motel room. When the man opened his door, the smell inside was so intense that the detectives' eyes began watering, according to Sandy Police spokesman David Lundberg.
After obtaining a warrant, officers raided the room and discovered a lab capable of making unlimited amounts of methamphetamine. Police also found a handgun and $5,000 in cash.
Crews from the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Utah Department of Investigation and the Sandy Fire Department were called to clean up the volatile lab. There were enough chemicals inside the room to level the entire motel, said Lundberg.