Joliet Township traffic stop leads to discovery of mobile meth lab

JOLIET TOWNSHIP – A traffic stop Tuesday in Joliet Township by Will County sheriff's deputies led to the discovery of a mobile meth lab.

At 1:30 a.m., deputies stopped a Chevy Impala near Doris Avenue and Gardner Street for having an invalid registration, according to a Sheriff's Office news release.

After speaking to the driver, Ashley E. O'Connell, 26, police asked her, as well as passenger Anthony J. Gomez, 37, and a female passenger, to exit the vehicle. A search of the Impala revealed drug equipment; a baggie containing what appeared to be methamphetamine; a sealed plastic Pepsi bottle with chemicals inside; and a nylon bag containing drain cleaner, Sudafed, a cold pack and ziplock baggies, the release stated.

Police concluded the contents of the vehicle were being used to produce meth and the chemicals in the Pepsi bottle were being “cooked” and were potentially unstable. The Joliet Fire Department and the Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Team were called to the scene, with the state police team conducting a more thorough search of the car and alleviating any potential hazards.

O'Connell and Gomez, both of the 1300 block of Ridgewood Avenue in Joliet, were charged with possession of methamphetamine precursor and methamphetamine, and transported to Will County jail. The female passenger was not charged.