Mexico man arrested for having meth lab materials in vehicle

A Mexico man was arrested for having materials for a meth lab in his vehicle on Monday.

Johnnie L. Schultz was driving eastbound on Highway 54 when a Missouri State Highway Patrol vehicle pulled behind him for a traffic stop. Schultz did not stop on the side of the highway, but slowed down on the shoulder to throw a container out of the passenger side of the vehicle.

Schultz suddenly stopped and his passenger was identified as Brian M. Smith. Troopers searched the vehicle and found an open lithium battery, plastic tubing, coffee filters, bicycle tire tubes, empty pill blister packs, Prestone starting liquid, Liquid Fire, aluminum foil and a propane tank with a tampered valve that smelled of anhydrous ammonia.

The troopers also examined the container that was thrown out of Schultz’s vehicle. It tested positive fro methamphetamine. A stick by the container also tested positive for ephedrine.

Smith was released at the scene. Schultz was arrested for misdemeanor failing to have two lighted headlamps, misdemeanor operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, felony manufacturing of a controlled substance, felony possession of a controlled substance, felony unlawful use of drug paraphernalia, felony possession of anhydrous ammonia in a non-approved container, felony possession of methamphetamine precursors, felony tampering with physical evidence and felony resisting arrest for a felony.