Police: Nazareth man burned in meth lab explosion

FROM THE MORNING CALL

Nazareth police said a man who was severely burned Saturday night in a methamphetamine lab explosion in his apartment had been under investigation for more than a year.

The explosion happened around 10 p.m. at the apartment of Clayton Rutt, 54, who lives in apartment 103 at 119-121 S. Main St., said Nazareth police Detective Fred Lahovski.

Rutt remained in critical condition at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, a spokeswoman said Monday. Police said he will face drug charges when released from the hospital.

Rutt had been under investigation for suspected meth production, but police were never able to get enough evidence to charge him, Lahovski said.


He said Rutt's operation was capable of producing a "substantial" amount of meth and endangered the residents of about a dozen apartments and two businesses in the Main Street building.

"What's alarming is having the knowledge that there's some criminal activity that is extremely dangerous to residents and not having enough resources or evidence to address the issues," Lahovski said Monday.

Around 10 p.m. Saturday, residents heard an explosion and saw a burning object tossed from the second floor of the apartment building into the street, police said. They later determined that object was a charred plastic bottle that contained the residue of a lithium battery, one of the components of meth.

The state police clandestine laboratory unit and fire marshal are also investigating the explosion and fire, Lahovski said. The fire was contained to one room in Rutt's apartment and police said they determined no apartment residents needed to be evacuated.

Once Rutt is released from the hospital, police said he will be charged with risking a catastrophe, reckless endangerment, possession of chemicals related to methamphetamine production, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to court records, Rutt was charged in 2006 with possession of methamphetamine, assault and weapon charges for threatening a woman in a Lower Nazareth Wal-Mart. Rutt pleaded guilty to harassment and weapons charges and was sentenced to nine months of probation.

http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nazareth-meth-lab-explosion-20101025,0,227784.story