A New Jersey police officer has been charged with running a meth lab from his home.
According to Yahoo! News, a 19-year veteran of the Long Branch Police Department, Christopher Walls, has been taken into custody after it was found that the 50-year-old was making methamphetamine in his home.
On Saturday, police went to Walls’s home over a domestic violence report. According to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, when police arrived, a resident told officers that Walls was involved in “suspicious narcotics activity.” After that, a police hazmat unit came to Walls’ home and found chemicals, materials, and instruments commonly used when someone is producing methamphetamine. According to a news release, the items were found in Walls’ basement and a shed located on Walls’ property. Walls shares the home with his wife and child.
On top of the meth-related utensils, the hazmat unit also found meth residue in lab glassware on the property and books that were written about making meth, explosives and poison. Officers also found a “large open and unsecured gun safe.” Inside there were two long guns, four handguns and eight high-capacity magazines and ammunition, Yahoo! News reports.
Walls was suspended without pay. “The officers in our agency risk their lives daily to protect and serve our residents,” said acting Long Branch Police Chief Frank Rizzuto in a statement. “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.”
“The city has a no-tolerance policy for any illegal activity committed by police officers,” said Long Branch Mayor John Pallone in a statement. “They must be held to the highest standard.” If convicted, Walls is looking at 20 years in prison.
