Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Man driving possible meth lab arrested previously after meth lab crash

Robert C. Copley Jr (Courtesy VPRJ)

A man who was arrested Wednesday night after being found driving a possible mobile meth lab has been arrested once before in a different mobile meth lab incident.

Robert Copley Jr., 39, was arrested in October after police found a mobile meth lab in a minivan he was driving in York County, police said.

Robert Copley was arrested in the parking lot of the Norge Farm Fresh Wednesday night after he fled an area where the Tri Rivers Drug Task Force was executing a search warrant, according to James City County Police spokeswoman Stephanie Williams.

While executing the search warrant, police saw a vehicle driven by “a relative” pull up to the residence, located in the 100 block of Tarbark Lane, then flee the scene. Police pulled Robert Copley over in the parking lot of Farm Fresh, located at 115 Norge Lane.

Police found “byproducts consistent with the production of methamphetamines,” in both Robert Copley’s vehicle and at the house, Williams said.

Court records show Robert Copley was also arrested Oct. 6 after he was involved in a crash in York County. Police said he and a woman, Jennifer Kendrick, were operating a mobile meth lab out of the minivan involved in the accident.

In April, prosecutors agreed to drop three felony charges against Robert Copley, finding him guilty of one charge of possession of marijuana. Robert Copley avoided jail time after a judge suspended his entire 12-month sentence.

Robert Copley was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant out of Colonial Heights, Williams said.

Police responded to a two-car crash on Route 17 Oct. 6 and noticed odors coming from one of the vehicles that were consistent with the manufacture of methamphetamine. Cleanup crews were dispatched to the scene. (Courtesy YPSO)

James City County Police also arrested two other men Wednesday night in connection with alleged methamphetamine manufacture.

Sean Copley, 36, and Byron Davis, 43, were taken into custody when James City County Police and the Tri Rivers Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at a house on Tarbark Lane Wednesday at 7:10 p.m.

They are both charged with possession and manufacture of methamphetamine.

Police said they found evidence indicating methamphetamine production in a shed at the house.

Virginia State Police, Virginia Clandestine Lab Evidence Recovery and Clean-up Team and County Fire personnel stayed on scene at both locations for several hours Wednesday night and into Thursday morning.

This investigation is still active.

Sarah Fearing
Sarah Fearing
Sarah Fearing is the Assistant Editor at WYDaily. Sarah was born in the state of Maine, grew up along the coast, and attended college at the University of Maine at Orono. Sarah left Maine in October 2015 when she was offered a job at a newspaper in West Point, Va. Courts, crime, public safety and civil rights are among Sarah’s favorite topics to cover. She currently covers those topics in Williamsburg, James City County and York County. Sarah has been recognized by other news organizations, state agencies and civic groups for her coverage of a failing fire-rescue system, an aging agriculture industry and lack of oversight in horse rescue groups. In her free time, Sarah enjoys lazing around with her two cats, Salazar and Ruth, drinking copious amounts of coffee and driving places in her white truck.

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