Meth Lab Busted in Bethlehem Township, Police Say

By Tom Coombe

Bethlehem Township police said a man was running a meth lab out of a shed on a Sixth Street property.

Thomas Stocker Jr., 31, was charged Wednesday with methamphetamine production, operating a meth lab, possession of a controlled substance, risking a catastrophe, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of pseudoephedrine.

Stocker is listed in court records as homeless, but police say he told them he was living in the shed at 1450 Sixth St., where investigators served a search warrant Wednesday morning.

Inside, police say they found methamphetamine, liquid and powdered chemicals and lab equipment. Stocker allegedly admitted to running the lab.

Also arrested was Dawn Marie Stocker, 51, who lives at the Sixth Street home. She was arraigned on meth possession charges before on duty District Judge Richard Yetter in Wilson, and sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $7,500 bail.

Thomas Stocker was also arraigned before Yetter, and jailed after failing to post $85,000 bail. It was not clear how Thomas and Dawn Stocker were related.

Methamphetamine production has kept township and city police busy this year.

Back in March, for example, a Northeast Bethlehem home that had been targeted in a joint investigation by both departments was the scene of a meth lab explosion three hours before a scheduled raid.

Four people were charged with being involved in meth production and distribution in that case.