Meth Lab Suspect Caught Red-Handed

Sept. 28--PITTSTON -- The last time a methamphetamine lab blew up in Kevin Hall's home, he denied involvement. This time, he has hand singes and beard burns to prove it, police say.

Police found Hall hiding in a cemetery and arrested him on meth-making charges Thursday morning, hours after his meth operation erupted in flames Wednesday around 8:15 p.m. in the basement of 100 Tompkins St. in Pittston, according to charges filed.

Investigators said Hall, 39, is also linked to a meth lab that was raided by agents from the state Attorney General's office on Tuesday night on Main Street in Jenkins Township.

"He got away," said John Soprano, regional director of the Attorney General's Office. "In the meantime, he sets up another lab and he sets the basement on fire."

After a futile attempt at dousing the flames, Hall fled, police say.

"They apprehended him in a cemetery, hiding behind a tombstone, with half his beard burned off," Soprano said.

Prior to the recent meth busts, Hall was out on bail, awaiting trial, in connection with a meth lab that was uncovered as a result of a basement fire at his apartment at 19 Hill St. in the Mocanaqua section of Conyngham Township. At the time, Hall denied involvement, blaming the lab on his buddy who would visit and hang out in his basement.

"Does it look like a meth lab, really? Does it look like a junkie's house? This is not a meth lab. If this was a meth lab, do you think it would be clean? I don't even smoke in the house," Hall said after inviting a reporter into his kitchen Jan. 10.

Authorities later charged Hall with a host of meth-related charges in the Conyngham case. He's facing the same charges again.

Hall, whose address is still listed as 19 Hill St. in Mocanaqua, is charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of meth, possession with the intent to deliver and causing a catastrophe.

According to arrest papers in the Pittston case, Hall was the "cook" in the operation and had just demonstrated to the apartment's occupants how to make meth, assuring he "knew what he was doing," police said in arrest papers.

After the session, everyone went upstairs to get high on the fresh product, police said. When Hall returned downstairs, the remnants erupted and he tried to extinguish the blaze, but was unsuccessful and fled the home, police said.

Police said Hall admitted to his role and showed police the burns on his hands and face.

Several people who were asleep in the home escaped unharmed, police said.

Following his arraignment by Magisterial District Judge Andrew Barilla, Hall was jailed in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility in lieu of $300,000 cash bail.

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570-821-2055, @cvbobkal