Two men were arrested Tuesday for running an active meth lab in the utility area of a Taco Bell restaurant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Cedar Rapids police responded to a complaint about suspicious men in the area early Tuesday morning and found Taco Bell employee Christopher Matous and his companion Kent Duby outside the restaurant, KWWL reports.
Police found a peeled lithium battery, which is used in manufacturing methamphetamine, near where 31-year-old Matous was standing. Inside the restaurant, they found Coleman fuel, drain cleaner, lye and other materials used to make meth. Police also recovered 2 grams of meth.
Matous and 56-year-old Duby were charged with conspiracy to manufacture meth, NBC News reports.
Matous admitted he made and used meth so he could "stay high all the time." He had previously been convicted of manufacturing the substance in April 21, 2008, KWWL reports.
"Both we and our franchisee find this completely unacceptable," Taco Bell said in a statement, adding the incident was an isolated case and the franchisee is cooperating with Cedar Rapids police in the investigation.
"Although the suspicious items found in the restaurant were not used in the kitchen, the employee has been terminated and our franchisee is considering pressing criminal charges," the statement further said.
The Grand Rapids Taco Bell outlet will reopen after health department officials have inspected and sanitized the premises.
"At this time there is no evidence that there is a health risk to the public," said Linn County Public Health director Pramod Dwivedi, according to KWWL.
