Man arrested for portable meth lab

Published 10:08 am Wednesday, April 27, 2011

An Austin man awaiting sentencing on another drug crime has been accused of carrying a portable methamphetamine lab in his backpack.

Jacob Harm Wilde, 33, was charged Tuesday in Mower County Court with fifth-degree drug possession and possessing meth precursors with intent to manufacture — both felonies.

Wilde was arrested April 21 on a warrant. When officers were in pursuit of Wilde, one said he saw Wilde with a backpack. The backpack was found, and contained a Southern Comfort liquor bottle one-third full with a liquid that tested positive for ammonia.

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According to court documents, the bag also contained clear plastic tubing and a straw that both tested positive for meth, coffee filters, mason jars, lithium batteries and an unopened bottle of muriatic acid.

Wilde is scheduled to enter his plea May 5. He is scheduled for sentencing in the previous drug crime May 20.