Rome Fire and Police Investigate Fire, Stumble Into Possible Meth Lab

A Rome woman is under arrest after police and fire authorities stumbled onto an alleged meth lab by mistake.

The Rome Fire Department and Rome Police Department responded to a call of a structure fire at 1003 West Dominick Street just after noon on Wednesday, July 1, 2015.

When firefighters arrived at the scene they saw fumes coming from a first floor apartment.  One inside they determined that there was not a fire but there was a possible methamphetamine manufacturing operation in the apartment, which was unoccupied at the time.  They alerted police who then secured the home and engaged the services of the New York State Police Contaminated Crime Scene Emergency Response Team, "CCSERT."

According to a written release from Rome Police they recovered eight (8) used one pot method meth labs, a small amount of methamphetamine, and several items and chemicals that are typically used to make methamphetamine.

Police say the residence is occupied by 31-year old Erin Gillespie.  Police say Gillespie, who allegedly has a suspended driver's license, "...was not home when police and firefighters arrived but drove up to the scene shortly after their arrival."

She was arrested and charged with the following:

• unlawful manufacturing of methamphetamine (third degree, a felony)
• criminal possession of a controlled substance (seventh degree, a misdemeanor)
• aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle (second degree)

Gillespie is being held at the Rome jail pending her arraignment in court.