Man Accused Of Making Meth In Walmart

MENTOR, OH -- A man is accused of not just stealing the ingredients to make methamphetamine from a in Mentor, but also trying to make the meth in the store.

A security guard spotted James Richardson, 37, of Perry, walking around the store about 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

He put drain cleaner, camp fuel and Lime Out stain remover in his shopping cart, all of which are used in the production of meth, Mentor Police Lt. Ken Zbiegien said.

Then Richardson grabbed a salt shaker and poured some of each of the products he had taken into it. Then he began shaking it, Zbiegien said.

Authorities call this the shake-and-bake or one-pot method, which involves combining the ingredients in a single sealed container and shaking it to increase the pressure.

Richardson shook the shaker for awhile and then left it on a store shelf, Zbiegien said.

Then he began to walk toward the exit with his chemicals; but, by this point, police had been called and officers stopped him.

When police and Lake County Narcotics agents looked into the shaker, it still had the meth in it, Zbiegien said.

Mentor firefighters cordoned portions of the store because Richardson had spilled some of his chemicals while making the meth, Zbiegien said.

Richardson initially told police that he needed the products for use at home. Zbiegien added that Richardson was also jittery while talking to officers.

Richardson has gotten in trouble for both drugs and specifically meth before.

He has five previous convictions for felony drug possession and one more for manufacturing meth, Zbiegien said.

Police charged Richardson with two counts of illegal assembly of manufacturing meth and a count of theft.

He was arraigned Monday morning in . Judge John Trebets set his bond at $75,000, which was not posted.

Richardson's next court hearing is set for June 25.