Exploding Meth Lab: Last Alleged Co-Conspirator Arrested

The fourth and last of the alleged co-conspirators believed to be responsible for the meth lab explosion in northeast Bethlehem was arrested early Sunday, city police said.

Daniel James Houser, 39, was taken into custody at St. Luke’s University Hospital in Fountain Hill sometime after 2:30 a.m., according to the Bethlehem police blog. The report does not say why Houser was at the hospital.

Houser is now being held at Northampton County Prison, police said.

He was wanted on multiple charges including felony counts of operating a methamphetamine lab, criminal conspiracy, manufacturing methamphetamine and causing a catastrophe.

The suspected methamphetamine lab at 1965 Greenleaf St. exploded and caught fire on March 8 at about 3 a.m., three hours before Bethlehem police planned to execute a search warrant there.

A two-month investigation by city and Bethlehem Township police into meth sales in the area led them to that house.

Three others allegedly connected to the lab have already been arrested. They are:

• Elaine M. Noone, 64, the home’s owner, who is free on $75,000 unsecured bail.
• Davina C. Bowler, 39, who is in Northampton County Prison in lieu of $15,000 bail.
• Jeffrey Caulfield, 28, who is in Northampton County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.