Christopher S. Miller

Fredonia Police have determined the suspicious odor from a residence on Berry Road on Tuesday is the result of a meth lab.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, members of the Fredonia Police Department assisted a Chautauqua County Child Protection worker at 15 Berry Road to investigate what the worker suspected was some type of drug manufacturing equipment located inside the dwelling. Upon officers’ arrival, the occupant of the house, Krystal Hafner, 32, was in the process of disposing chemical solutions and equipment.

In doing so, noxious fumes began to fill the home. The residence was evacuated and Fredonia Fire Department was called to the scene.

The Fredonia Fire Department had the Chautauqua County Hazardous Materials Response Team respond as well. Fredonia Police secured a search warrant for the residence and had the NYS Police Special Operations Response Team respond to the scene for evidence collection and hazardous waste disposal.

Based on items recovered at the scene, Hafner, along with Christopher S. Miller, 39, who also lives at 15 Berry St., were charged with third-degree unlawful manufacturing of methamphetamine, a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. Hafner was additionally charged with unlawful disposal of methamphetamine laboratory material, a felony.

Hafner and her two month old child were the only subjects home at the time of the incident, however, along with Miller, others that live there include four children, ranging in age from 2 months to 17 years. The couple has nine children between them.

Fredonia Police were assisted at the scene by the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force.

The investigation is continuing and additional charges are pending. Anyone with information regarding this incident or others is asked to contact the Fredonia Police Department.