NIAGARA FALLS – A former Lockport man with a long criminal history is facing new charges after federal marshals found him cooking up a batch of methamphetamine in a Falls Street apartment.
The apartment building was cordoned off by Niagara Falls police after the home meth lab was found just after 3:30 p.m. Monday. State and U.S. Drug Enforcement HazMat agents finished cleaning up the scene Tuesday morning.
John F. Apolito Jr., 30, of Niagara Falls was charged with violating federal supervision release on weapons and drug related charges, according to Daniel E. Larish, U.S. Marshal supervisory deputy. He said the suspected drug lab was turned over to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and further charges are pending.
Apolito is also a registered Level 2 sex offender, convicted this past May of second-degree sexual abuse for abusing a 13-year-old child, said Larish.
A warrant was issued after Apolito tested positive for opiates and then fled supervision in Niagara Falls. Larish said. A search led to a third floor apartment at 1936 Falls Street just after 3 p.m. Monday.
Deputies broke down a locked bedroom door and had to subdue Apolito to arrest him, police said. Inside his apartment, they found suspected drug paraphernalia for making methamphetamine, including soda bottles and cold capsules.
“The guy was making meth. He was a cooker,” Larish said. “When we entered I knew he had cooked that day. I could smell it. When the chemicals react they are harmful and caustic.”
The meth lab uncovered Monday is one of a string of meth labs found in the area, with more than a dozen uncovered in Western New York since early 2012, according to Niagara County Sheriff James Voutour. Four were found in Niagara Falls in the past four months, according to Niagara Falls Police Narcotics Lt. Theodore Weed.
“After years of holding it at bay this seems to be coming into our area and we are doing the best we can to combat it,” said Niagara Falls Police Superintendent Bryan L. DalPorto. “It’s cheap and easy. The stuff to manufacture it is stuff you can buy at Walmart. You can buy all the components legally, but [when they put it together] it is very dangerous and very hazardous.”
The apartment building was cordoned off by Niagara Falls police after the home meth lab was found just after 3:30 p.m. Monday. State and U.S. Drug Enforcement HazMat agents finished cleaning up the scene Tuesday morning.
John F. Apolito Jr., 30, of Niagara Falls was charged with violating federal supervision release on weapons and drug related charges, according to Daniel E. Larish, U.S. Marshal supervisory deputy. He said the suspected drug lab was turned over to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and further charges are pending.
Apolito is also a registered Level 2 sex offender, convicted this past May of second-degree sexual abuse for abusing a 13-year-old child, said Larish.
A warrant was issued after Apolito tested positive for opiates and then fled supervision in Niagara Falls. Larish said. A search led to a third floor apartment at 1936 Falls Street just after 3 p.m. Monday.
Deputies broke down a locked bedroom door and had to subdue Apolito to arrest him, police said. Inside his apartment, they found suspected drug paraphernalia for making methamphetamine, including soda bottles and cold capsules.
“The guy was making meth. He was a cooker,” Larish said. “When we entered I knew he had cooked that day. I could smell it. When the chemicals react they are harmful and caustic.”
The meth lab uncovered Monday is one of a string of meth labs found in the area, with more than a dozen uncovered in Western New York since early 2012, according to Niagara County Sheriff James Voutour. Four were found in Niagara Falls in the past four months, according to Niagara Falls Police Narcotics Lt. Theodore Weed.
“After years of holding it at bay this seems to be coming into our area and we are doing the best we can to combat it,” said Niagara Falls Police Superintendent Bryan L. DalPorto. “It’s cheap and easy. The stuff to manufacture it is stuff you can buy at Walmart. You can buy all the components legally, but [when they put it together] it is very dangerous and very hazardous.”