Updated: Family told by police no 'meth lab' in Rosemont house
By Nelson Daily Staff
The family of the 33-year-old man found dead in a Rosemont duplex Friday night is upset with some of the media reports and rumours circulating that their son had a “meth lab” in the residence.
The parents, currently travelling to Nelson from Eastern Canada, was told by police there is no “meth lab” in the house a close friend of the deceased man said to The Nelson Daily Monday.
The close friend is still trying to sort out what happened and at this time, did not want to have his name published.
“I spoke to his dad he was told there was nothing found in the house by police that had to do with a “meth lab”,’ the man’s friend for the past 17 years said.
“They’re still waiting for autopsy to be done, so they’re not sure the cause of death and his parents are en route to come here from Nova Scotia.
The deceased man, found by two friends Friday night, graduated from L.V. Rogers High School in Nelson in 1997.
He moved away before returning to Nelson about three years ago. He was a contractor and has young a son.
“He was a kind-hearted, caring . . . just would not hurt a soul,” the friend said. “He has the biggest heart of gold ever . . . he would do anything to help anyone else out. That’s why this is such a tragedy of what happened.”
The B.C. Corners office has taken over the investigation into the death of the deceased man and has yet to release the name in this case.
Police uncover suspected ‘meth lab’ in Rosemont, tenant of residence located deceased at scene
Part of Rosemont looked more like a crime scene than a residential area when Nelson Police located a “meth lab” during a call of a sudden death Friday night.
The call came in at approximately 8:30 p.m. for NPD officers to assist B.C. Ambulance at the duplex residence on the corner of Robertson and West Innes in Rosemont.
When police arrived at the scene they found the tenant, a 33-year-old male, deceased and an operation in the basement of the residence possibly for manufacturing prescription and/or restricted drugs.
“Based on (officers) initial observations of the interior of the house, the first Police responders suspected that a clandestine lab may have been active within the home and deemed it prudent to leave the scene and contain the residence,” said Nelson Police Department Sergeant Janet Scott-Pryke in a written release.
“Law enforcement and fire personnel were then consulted immediately from a public safety perspective.
Scott-Pryke said after consultation with RCMP and Nelson Fire Department subject matter experts, it was determined there was likely no immediate danger to nearby residences and/or the public.
However, to preserve the integrity of the coroner, police and fire department investigative processes, the resident from the duplex immediately beside the crime scene was relocated along with occupants of a house immediately to the rear of the residence.
The residents to the rear of the suspect house subsequently returned home.
After securing the scene, it was deemed necessary for NPD to call in RCMP “E” Division Response Team for Clandestine Labs from Vancouver to dispose of the drug lab.
The team arrived Saturday at 6 p.m.
After an operational briefing, regular and Reserve personnel from the NPD, the RCMP’s clandestine lab, forensic identification and IRSU teams, the Nelson Fire Department, BC Ambulance Services and the BC Coroner’s Service attended the scene to commence their respective investigative processes.
As of 11 a.m. Sunday, the preliminary portions of the investigations have been concluded, with the overall incident remaining in an “on-going” investigative status.
No dangerous or noxious chemicals were located or recovered from the residence.
The B.C. Corners office has taken over the investigation into the death of the deceased man.
Next of kin have been notified.
