Five-year-old boy found inside meth lab – taken from father

Historic City News was notified that a five-year-old child was taken to Flagler Hospital for decontamination by an investigator with the Florida Division of Children and Families today, after his father was arrested at their residence on Crookshank Drive in St Augustine; the scene of an illegal methamphetamine lab.

The boy’s father, 39-year-old James Andrew Koepfer, was arrested by deputies with the St Johns County clandestine lab team this afternoon on numerous drug related charges, as well as child neglect.

“The sheriff’s office contacted Division of Children and Families and responded to Koepfer’s home shortly before 2:00 p.m. today after receiving a complaint that there was a child present inside the residence where illegal drugs were being manufactured,” Media Relations Officer Kevin Kelshaw told Historic City News.

Detectives found evidence of multiple cooks that have occurred inside the home, as well as other locations on the property, where Koepfer and his son were found to live. Koepfer gave corrections deputies a residence address of 630 Front Avenue in Columbus, Georgia.

Koepfer is accused of the manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, keeping a public nuisance structure for drug activity, child neglect and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked into the St Johns County Detention Facility at the Neil J Perry Criminal Justice Complex, where he remains without bond — at least until his first appearance hearing in the morning.

Detectives are continuing their investigation.