Arrest made at Barcelona Avenue meth lab

Historic City News crime reporters have been informed by St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kevin Kelshaw that a 36 year-old St. Johns County woman has been arrested for the second time in less than five months yesterday afternoon on drug charges relating to operating a methamphetamine lab on Barcelona Avenue.

The suspect, identified as Wendy Marie Gibson who now resides at 19 Barcelona Avenue was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession and use of narcotic equipment, possession of listed chemical for manufacture of a controlled substance and grand theft. She is being held in the St. Johns County Jail in lieu of bonds totaling $21,000.

Gibson was living across the street at 20 Barcelona Avenue when she was last arrested on April 27th.

Deputies were responding to a reported theft at a residence on Barcelona Avenue, when the discovered the lab unexpectedly. The 24 year-old theft victim told deputies that Gibson had been residing in a rear bedroom at his residence for a few days. According to the victim, Gibson went into his room and allegedly removed an X-Box and two controllers.

According to the report, just before the victim arrived home, Gibson gave the stolen items to a witness with instructions to pawn them.

While investigating the alleged theft deputies detected a strong chemical odor from inside the residence. When the deputy went to speak with Gibson about the theft, she opened the door and a large white chemical cloud bellowed out of the room.

Deputies ordered everyone out of the home and the Hazmat team responded along with detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit.

During a search of the residence, detectives seized items and chemicals commonly used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine.

Gibson was arrested and booked into the County Jail. The X-Box and two controllers were recovered by deputies during the investigation and were returned to the victim.

Photo credits: © 2010 Historic City News contributed photograph by Gregory Smith