A warrant check in the city of Dunkirk Wednesday evening led to the discovery of an alleged meth lab on Leming Street.

According to authorities, Chautauqua County Sheriff deputies and Dunkirk Police officers responded to 8 Leming St., to perform a warrant check for Jason R. Tolbert, 31, of 418 Central Ave., and Crystal M. Kinsey, 32, of 8 Leming St. Tolbert was wanted on a Chautauqua County Family Court Warrant and Kinsey was wanted on third-degree forgery from Ripley Town Court. Upon entry into the residence, officers found Kinsey and Tolbert hiding in another room. Both were taken into custody for the charges and arraigned. Kinsey was sent to the Chautauqua County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail and Tolbert was sent to the county jail on $2,000 bail.

While inside the residence officers observed an alleged one-bottle style methamphetamine lab. Officers called for the assistance of the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force and a search warrant was secured by Dunkirk City Court Judge Walter Drag. Security was maintained on the residence until properly equipped search and disposal teams could arrive to collect evidence and remove all toxic materials.

At 8:30 a.m., Thursday the U.S. DEA Clandestine Laboratory Team arrived and rendered the lab safe and collected items of evidence. The New York State Police Clandestine Laboratory Team assisted the DEA Team and took possession of all toxic materials and transported them to a disposal site.

As a result of the search warrant, Tolbert and Kinsey were charged with one count each of third-degree unlawful manufacturing methamphetamine. The warrant has been filed with the county jail as a detainer warrant and both will be arraigned in Dunkirk City Court at a later date. Additional items of evidence were obtained from the scene and are currently being taken to the lab for further tests. Additional charges are anticipated to be placed.

The Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force is comprised of officers from the sheriff’s office and Dunkirk Police Department. The STRDTF would like to encourage members of the community to call the task force at 1-800-344-8702 or Dunkirk Police at 363-0313 when they observe narcotic-related activity in their area.