Meth Lab Uncovered on Railroad Lane, Police Say

Lower Saucon Township Police announced late Friday that a suspected meth lab was uncovered and three people arrested early Friday at a home in the 1700 block of Railroad Lane, which is a short dead-end street off Meadows Road, just east of the Saucon Rail Trail.

Three children in the custody of the adults who were arrested were turned over to Northampton County Children & Youth services, police also said.

In a news release, police said the execution of a search warrant Friday morning by the Pennsylvania State Police's Clandestine Laboratory Response Team and members of the Northampton County Drug Task Force culminated a four-month investigation into alleged methamphetamine manufacturing and sales at 1767 Railroad Lane.

Police said that after the search warrant was executed, "precursor chemicals and items used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine were found."

"Multiple various stages and completed processes of methamphetamine manufacturing were also found," along with drug paraphernalia, they added.

Police said the three people who were arrested are Samantha Cook, 21, Amanda Bauder-Bowen, 26, and Keith Hammerstone, 31.

They said all three have been charged with manufacturing of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of ephedrine, operating a methamphetamine laboratory and illegal dumping of methamphetamine trash, unlawful manufacturing of methamphetamine, risking a catastrophe, possession of paraphernalia, possession of liquified ammonia gas precursors and chemicals, and criminal conspiracy.

Bauder-Bowen, Cook and Hammerstone were arraigned before District Judge David Tidd and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $75,000 bail each, police said.

There have been several high-profile busts of alleged meth labs in the Saucon Valley area in recent months, including one on Main Street in Hellertown that took place in August.

In spite of the recent spate of arrests, Patch readers last month disagreed about whether there is a serious meth problem in the area.

Photo: Patch file photo