VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Abraham Haines admits he’s grown mushrooms and pot before, but he told WTKR his arrest Monday for allegedly manufacturing meth is all a mistake.
Abraham Haines
“Someone texted me on my phone looking for pot. They said they heard about me through a mutual friend,” said Haines from inside the Virginia Beach Jail.
When he went to get money out, he and a friend were stopped by police and handcuffed, he says.
“They said they have been following me for months and that I am making meth,” said Haines.
Norfolk Police say they were conducting a narcotics investigation in their city Monday when it led them to execute a search warrant. During their investigation, they discovered items in Haines' home that appeared to be components of a lab used to manufacture drugs, they said.
“They told me I was producing meth, but I have a chemistry set, and it’s used to make essential oils and soaps,” explained Haines. "I’ve been trying to make a little extra money to buy my daughter a gift, so I’ve been selling stuff on Etsy."
Haines says his 5-month-old daughter was stripped from his arms inside his home Monday.
“Someone called Child Protective Services because they saw chemistry equipment,” Haines told WTKR. "My neighbors have seen it and even my landlord, because I was excited about it."
Law enforcement was outside the auto mechanic's home for hours Monday, dressed in hazmat suits and coming out with bags of materials.
“It was shocking, very scary. I was baffled,” said Rhonda Llewelyn, who lives across the street.
Police charged Haines with possession of a controlled substance; manufacturing, sales and possession of a controlled substance; and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
“I catch myself bouncing between rage and sorrow,” stated Haines. "I’m so sad to think about what my daughter is going through. I think I’ll be in here forever, and they will bury me."
