UPDATE - The Linn County Attorney says the drug investigation at a Cedar Rapids Taco Bell involved an active meth lab. Court documents show when police responded to the suspicious activity call, they saw a peeled lithium battery near a suspect's feet.
They say when officers went inside the restaurant they found the lab with Coleman fuel, lye, drain cleaner and other ingredients used to make meth. Officers also found one to two grams of meth at the scene. Police say the defendant admitted that he was making meth for personal use to "stay high all the time."
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CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (CBS2/FOX28) - Two men are in custody after police say they were involved with drug activity inside a Cedar Rapids business.
Public Information Officer Greg Buelow tells CBS 2 News officers were called to the Taco Bell on Blairs Ferry at 4:42 a.m. Tuesday for suspicious activity. When they got there they found two men outside the restaurant.
Officials say one of the men told police he was an employee, the other said he was not. Police called the manager of the Taco Bell who asked them to make sure everything inside was okay. When officials went inside they say they found remnants of a meth lab.
Police have arrested 31-year-old Christopher Matous, and charged him with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of sodium hydroxide, and possession of petroleum distillates.
Police also arrested 56-year-old Kent Duby, and charged him with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.
In a statement, Taco Bell Corp. confirmed an employee had been involved and had been terminated. They say they are cooperating with the investigation they call an "isolated incident." The company says the materials were found away from the kitchen area. Still, a full cleaning and inspection of the restaurant will be completed before it reopens.
Below is the full statement from Taco Bell Corp.:
"We understand that two people, one an employee, entered our franchisee's restaurant illegally, allegedly possessing suspicious items. Both we and our franchisee find this completely unacceptable. Our franchisee has been cooperating with Cedar Rapids Police to investigate this isolated incident. Although the suspicious items found in the restaurant were not used in the kitchen, the employee has been terminated and our franchisee is considering pressing criminal charges. The restaurant will reopen after it has been sanitized inspected by the Health Department."
