One Arrested After Long Beach Hazmat Situation Caused By 'Fully Functioning' Meth Lab

John Weinstock, 40, was arrested on Friday, May 10, after police responded to 324 West Beach Street, Long Beach, for a report of an unconscious man in the side yard, said the Long Beach Police Department.

Officers found Weinstock unconscious and he was transported to South Nassau Communities Hospital.

Rescue personnel at the scene were attempting to determine how he became injured, where he came from and if there were others in need of when they happened upon a clandestine laboratory in a detached garage behind the home, police said.

The laboratory had an active source heating a liquid and there was what appeared to be a chemical process occurring, police said.

Rescue personnel backed out, evacuated surrounding homes and requested the hazmat team, they added.

The department's Emergency Services Unit and the Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office responded. Both units are trained to operate in hazardous situations, police said. 

During an initial assessment, the units were able to disable the heat source and gather information about the laboratory.

The Nassau County Police Arson and Bomb Squad along with the FBI's bomb unit then conducted an emergency search and removed a substance from the residence, police added.

Special agents from the DEA were also present and helped with the subsequent investigation.

A special team from the state police and DEA officials were able to determine the set-up was a clandestine lab involved in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Over the course of several hours they were able to dismantle the lab and remove the drugs, chemicals, and equipment, police said. 

Long Beach police then conducted a search of the home and found a large number of chemicals, laboratory equipment, and electronic devices. 

"It was confirmed that this was a fully functioning methamphetamine manufacturing laboratory," said Long Beach Police Commissioner Michael Tangney. "It was an extremely dangerous and volatile situation. Our officers and firefighters followed their training to the letter and made the area as safe as possible while awaiting specialized units.

Weinstock, a licensed clinical laboratory technologist, was charged with reckless endangerment. 

The case remains under investigation and additional charges may be pending. 

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