A Leesburg home went up in flames and three people have been arrested, charged with drug possession and manufacturing meth, Lake County deputies said.
Investigators were conducting an unannounced search on a home located at 1785 Timber Ridge Circle in Leesburg Wednesday, a condition of probation for drug charges of 42-year-old Jerrald Villani.
Four persons exited the home as deputies knocked on the door to announce their presence. Shortly after, smoke and flames erupted from the home, deputies said.
The fire department was able to extinguish the flames, while the people from within the home were being decontaminated by personnel from Lake County HazMat Unit.
Investigators said, 40-year-old Michelle Crutchfield was carrying lithium batteries and Pseudoephedrine, items commonly used in meth labs, as she came out of the home.
Other items used to make meth were found inside the home, including lithium batteries, ammonium nitrate, lighter fluid, used coffee filters, muriatic acid, salt, more Pseudoephedrine, as well as a clear liquid that tested positive for methamphetamine. Detectives also located burnt pieces of aluminum foil that had been made into smoking devices, numerous used syringes, and a broken piece of a glass smoking device.
A search of Villani’s vehicle turned up two pills that were identified as Clonzepam, deputies said.
Villani was arrested for drug possession, manufacturing meth, possession of paraphernalia, and arson.
Cructhfield and Leslie Cummins, 31, were arrested for drug possession and manufacturing meth.
Investigators said, Crutchfield, Villani and Cummins are acquaintances who used drugs together and are not related.
