VAN BUREN COUNTY, Mich. — Van Buren County police investigating a crash involving a stolen vehicle found a meth lab nearby and arrested two people in connection, a news release said Monday.
The crash happened about 4:30 p.m. Sunday in the 27000 block of 6th Avenue in Pine Grove Township.
Deputies say a white Altima in the road that had hit a tree and saw there was no one inside the vehicle.
They followed footprints up to a nearby home, after the vehicle was confirmed stolen out of Kalamazoo.
When deputies followed the footprints up to the house, they noticed a strong chemical odor coming from near the garage and found a suspicious bag recently placed up against the garage.
Deputies opened the bag, concerned for the house nearby, and saw an active, one-pot meth lab inside.
Police conducted an interview at the house where the meth lab was found and identified three individuals who were involved in the earlier crash with the stolen vehicle.
Detectives were given a possible address and vehicle to look for in the village of Gobles.
They saw two men leave this home and drive to the Village Express gas station in Gobles.
Police asked the driver and passenger to shut off the vehicle and get out, but they refused to do so for several minutes.
After the driver finally unlocked the door, the passenger became aggressive and started to fight with the detectives.
Detectives were able to get the passenger into custody after a brief struggle.
They searched the vehicle and found a baggie of meth, along with open containers that the passenger was drinking in plain sight.
The 31-year-old man and 22-year-old man were arrested for possession of meth and resisting officers.
Police are still looking for a 25-year-old woman in connection to the meth lab.
