Sikeston man injured in mobile meth lab explosion

MINER, Mo. -- A Sikeston, Mo., man is facing drug charges related to a shake-and-bake meth lab attempt gone bad Friday morning.

John D. Smith, 44, has been charged by Scott County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Boyd with several felonies including possession of a controlled substance, possession of chemicals with intent to manufacture a controlled substance, possession of a meth precursor drug with intent to manufacture and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

About 8:55 a.m. Friday, officers from the Miner Police Department responded to an anonymous tip regarding a man dumping a plastic bottle at a trash bin near Larry's Pit Stop, 2413 E. Malone Ave. in Miner, according to chief Roger Moore of the Miner Police Department.

Moore said the man had been using the bottle for the shake-and bake method of manufacturing methamphetamine.

Billy Sullivan, an officer with the SEMO Drug Task Force, said witnesses reported seeing the man drive into the parking lot and emerge from his vehicle with a flaming bottle, which apparently had ignited during the reaction of the shake-and-bake process.

Witnesses reported the flames were on the subject's crotch area.

"He ran toward the [trash bin], poured the contents out on the ground and threw the bottle in the trash Dumpster," Moore said.

The man then reportedly fled the scene, after which witnesses called the police.

After investigating the scene at the trash bin, Moore called Norman Lingle, the city's emergency management director, to secure the area because of concerns the bottle's contents may have been hazardous materials.

The man was found at a local hotel and was placed under arrest, according to Moore.

"After a couple of hours, the SEMO Drug Task Force came over and looked at the Dumpster area, collected some of the evidence, and then, per their guidelines, stated that the area was safe," Moore said.

All the components used for the meth lab were in a trash can just outside the motel, Sullivan said.

The suspect reportedly received blisters from his burns but no major injuries, according to Sullivan.

As of press time, Smith remained in the Scott County Jail with a cash or surety bond set at $75,000.