Man busted for carrying meth lab in downtown Williamsburg

If you’re going to operate a meth lab, it’s not the best idea in the world to do so within eyesight of a police department, but that is exactly what a Corbin man is accused of doing in Williamsburg early Saturday morning.

About 3 a.m. Saturday, Williamsburg police arrested William F. Strunk, 26, of 55 Southwood Estates, and charged him with manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Officer Elijah Hunter discovered the active one-step meth lab in the downtown area of Williamsburg, Williamsburg Public Affairs Officer Shawn Jackson said in a press release. Police believe that the lab possibly originated at the Parks Apartments, which is located on Main Street directly across from City Hall and the Williamsburg Police Department headquarters, Jackson said in the release.

The arrest came after Hunter noticed a male subject walking across a parking lot area onto Sycamore Street carrying a box with items wrapped in plastic grocery store bags, according to the release. After stopping Strunk, Hunter noted "strange behavior" and that he appeared to be "very nervous," Jackson said in the release. Strunk allegedly told Hunter that he had beer in the box inside a bottle, but when the lid was removed from the plastic bottle, the substance started smoking, and appeared to be an unstable chemical, Jackson wrote.

At this point, Hunter secured the scene, and called for assistance from Sgt. Mike Taylor, who then contacted Detective Bobby Freeman, and the Kentucky State Police D.E.S.I. Unit to dismantle the meth lab, Jackson wrote.

After being arrested, Strunk complained of chest pains, and Whitley County EMS transported him to Baptist Regional Medical Center where he was released a short time later to Freeman, who transported him to the Whitley County Detention Center.

During the investigation, Hunter was exposed to the substance, and had to be decontaminated. He also went to Baptist Regional Medical Center Emergency Room where he was checked for non-life threatening injuries.
Taylor and Hunter are continuing the investigation, and other arrests are possible. The case will be presented to the Whitley County Grand Jury.