Sheriff Mark Dobbs: ‘Most complex’ meth lab found

A wellness check on a Williamsville man’s children Wednesday afternoon led authorities to discover what Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs described as the most complex methamphetamine lab he has ever seen.

At about 2:20 p.m., deputies assisted Missouri Children’s Division workers in conducting a “well being check” at Floyd Everett Martin’s home in the 100 block of Moonstone Lane, off of Highway JJ, according to Dobbs.

The Children’s Division had information alleging there was drug paraphernalia inside the home, as well as firearms and unsanitary living conditions, said Sgt. Richard Bruder.

Three children, who ranged in age from 11 to about 5, came to the door, said Bruder, who indicated Martin subsequently exited the home, as did the children, who began playing in the yard.

Deputies say they found a rifle and ammunition inside the home, once they were allowed to enter. They were also advised by dispatch that Martin was a convicted felon. As a convicted felon, Martin is prohibited by law from possessing guns, Dobbs said.

A search warrant was sought and granted, Dobbs said.

During the execution of a search warrant, “a very complex methamphetamine lab was located in one of the rooms within the home,” Dobbs explained. “It’s probably the most complex methamphetamine lab that I’ve ever seen,” given the amount and organization of the laboratory equipment.

The lab, according to the sheriff, was “definitely” active.

“Once they realized what it was, how complex it was and how poorly ventilated it was, (deputies) backed out,” Dobbs said.

The lab was located directly underneath the living room and kitchen areas of the home, Bruder said.

“It’s evident that Martin was producing methamphetamine at a high level,” Dobbs said. “We estimated probably 500 pieces of glassware and laboratory equipment” was in the room.

As Bruder was transporting Martin to jail, “he told me it had taken him 30 years to accumulate” all the glassware and lab supplies.

Dobbs said a government-contracted hazardous materials team was at the house Thursday afternoon “doing the clean up.”

Once the clean up is done, he said, officers will continue with executing the search warrant.

Martin initially did not want to allow law enforcement inside for the well being check, Dobbs said.

Martin also would not let the Children’s Division workers speak to his children, Bruder said.

“Eventually, the suspect, Floyd Martin, gave consent to a search” of his home, Dobbs said.

“He stipulated we could go into the house, but we couldn’t go into certain rooms,” Bruder said.

Officials were allowed in the living room, kitchen and children’s bedroom(s), he said.

“That’s all we were allowed to see,” Bruder said.

The home had cockroaches and holes in walls, he said.

“Half the floor was plywood,” with no carpet or any other covering, Bruder said, “The air vents were exposed. There was nothing covering the vents.”

When asked about going downstairs, Bruder said, Martin told them his children were not allowed downstairs.

“He let us go downstairs and showed me his bedroom,” Bruder said. “Once downstairs, I saw a rifle standing/leaning next to a wall” outside Martin’s bedroom.

Along with the rifle, Dobbs said, .22-caliber ammunition was found in the home.

“The ammunition was seen upstairs by Deputy (James) Allison on top of the refrigerator,” Bruder explained.

Martin subsequently withdrew consent for the search, the sheriff said.

Once outside, Bruder was notified by dispatch that Martin, who had followed officials outside, was a convicted felon.

Given Martin’s convicted felon status, “it was unlawful of him to possess said ammunition” or the rifle, Dobbs said.

There was an arrest attempted for the unlawful possession of the ammunition and firearm, and Martin “physically resisted arrest, but he was eventually handcuffed and put in a patrol car,” Dobbs said.

It was at that time deputies sought a search warrant and entered the home, finding the lab.

Before deputies vacated the home Wednesday, Bruder said, two additional rifles were found inside Martin’s bedroom.

Once the search of Martin’s home is complete, Dobbs said, additional charges will be sought, including manufacture of a controlled substance and possibly receiving stolen property.

Bruder said Children’s Division personnel told him Martin had been released from jail in Kentucky less than a month ago.

A search of Martin’s criminal history, according to Allison’s probable-cause statement, showed Martin had convictions in Stoddard, Wayne and Butler counties for second-degree burglary and stealing from 1992.

Martin, 47, was charged with the Class D felony of unlawful possession of a firearm and the Class E felony of resisting arrest.

He subsequently appeared before Senior Judge John Bloodworth for arraignment on the charges.

Casenet shows Martin, who initially was being held without bond, was formally arraigned and told of his constitutional rights, including his right to counsel.

Martin reportedly told the judge he didn’t intend to seek an attorney, but was going to represent himself.

Bloodworth reportedly encouraged Martin to get an attorney and offered the services of the Public Defender’s Office.

Martin again refused and “insisted on representing himself,” Casenet reports.

Although Martin said nothing regarding his bond and told the court to leave his bond as it was, Casenet said, the “court felt it necessary for (Martin) to have some type of bond, and on it’s own motion reduced (his) bond from no bond to $100,000 cash or surety.”

Martin is to appear Monday before Associate Circuit Judge C. Wade Pierce for a review of his case. A preliminary hearing also was set for 1 p.m. Feb. 6.