A New Jersey police officer has been charged with running a meth lab out of his home, according to law enforcement officials.
Yahoo News reports that Christopher, a 19 year veteran of the Long Branch Police Department, was taken into custody over the weekend. He is 50 years old. According to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, police went to his home on Saturday after a domestic violence report. A resident there told officers about “suspicious narcotics activity.”
A police hazmat unit then searched the property. Authorities say they found chemicals, materials and equipment commonly used to produce methamphetamine in the basement and a shed, along with meth residue in lab glassware and books about making meth, explosives and poison. Officers also reported finding an open, unsecured gun safe holding two long guns, four handguns, eight high capacity magazines and ammunition.
Christopher has been suspended without pay. “It is disappointing beyond measure that one of our officers could have risked the safety of his family and neighbors by engaging in such dangerous conduct,” acting Long Branch Police Chief Frank Rizzuto said in a statement. Mayor John Pallone said the city has a no tolerance policy for illegal activity by police officers.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. The charges are allegations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. A response from him was not available at the time of this report.
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