POINT PLEASANT — A Point Pleasant man was placed under arrest over the weekend for allegedly operating a shake and bake meth lab.
Daniel H. Payne, 28, Point Pleasant, has been charged with operating or attempting to operate a clandestine lab. He appeared before Magistrate Cheryl Miller Ross who set his bond at $100,000. As of Monday afternoon, he remained in the Western Regional Jail.
According to the criminal complaint filed in Mason County Magistrate Court, officers from the Mason County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to a white trailer located at the end of Allison Rd. in reference to possible drug activity. Upon arrival at the trailer, officers observed three people in a vehicle, including Payne, Joseph E. Snowden and Allysia K. Rice who was identified as the owner of the property.
After officers detected a “chemical odor” coming from the trailer, the complaint says Rice gave her permission to officers to search the property.
According to the complaint, on the front deck of the trailer, a 20 oz. soda bottle was found containing clear liquid and white powder on the bottom with a plastic tube extended at the top of the bottle - gas was emerging from the container. A similar bottle was allegedly found in the trailer’s kitchen. At this point, the officers called a meth technician from the sheriff’s department to clean the scene.
The meth technician observed an active gas generator, an active shake and bake, liquid drain cleaner, coffee filter with residue, gas can with liquid and lithium batteries cut open, according to the complaint.
After collecting statements from those gathered at the scene, Payne was charged with attempting to operate a meth lab.
Officers on the scene were Sgt. R. Fruth, Deputy J.R. Gilley and Deputy C.A. Rhodes, II.













