One man has been taken into custody as Holyoke police investigate a potential break in the case involving milk jugs associated with the production of Meth being left around the city.
Holyoke police and fire officials along with state police and HazMat crews investigate the contents of a milk jug found in a PT Cruiser at the corner of Cherry Street and Community field Road Saturday morning. UPDATE: 12:10 p.m. - Holyoke police have identified a house associated with the driver of the PT Cruiser and are reportedly waiting for a search warrant. The detective bureau is currently working the case and HazMat crews are still working to determine what the substance inside the suspicious containers is. The driver of the PT Cruiser was charged with illegal dumping in addition to disorderly conduct, according to Sgt. Joseph Garcia of the Holyoke Police Dept.
UPDATE: 9:40 a.m.- Police have reopened Route 202 and Exit 16 to traffic as the investigation continues at Community Field. The PT Cruiser has been towed from the scene.
This updates a story posted at 8:16 a.m.
Holyoke- One man has been taken into custody as Holyoke police investigate a potential break in the case involving milk jugs associated with the production of Methamphetamine being left around the city.
An observant citizen called Holyoke police Saturday morning to report seeing a suspicious man in a dark-colored PT Cruiser in Community Field, according to Lt. Michael Higgins.
Minutes later, an officer in the area pulled the car over and found a milk jug with an unspecified material in the vehicle, leading police to shut down Route 202 and the Interstate 91 on and off ramps for Exit 16.
"We found a suspicious jug in that car and several around Community Field," Higgins told MassLive.com. "HazMat working to determine what is inside them now. It could be harmless for all we know but when it comes to potentially explosive materials, we err on the side of caution."
Police have arrested the driver, whose name has not been released, on a disorderly conduct charge, Higgins said. More charges are likely pending the results of the overall investigation.
"He was acting evasive when the officer was speaking with him," Higgins said.
This situation is the latest in a slew of recent incidents in the city where police have found milk jugs containing the byproducts of Methamphetamine production being left out in the open.
Traffic is being redirected around the scene in the city and the Massachusetts State Police are blocking the I-91 off ramp.
More information on this developing story will be posted as it becomes available.