Apparent meth lab leads to Walmart evacuation

Updated: Wed 7:39 PM, Nov 21, 2012

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (WKYT) - A central Kentucky Walmart is back open after police discovered a meth lab on a customer.

It started when a man walked into the bathroom of the Nicholasville Walmart on Wednesday. Employees say the man was inside long enough that they went in to check it out. They found the man passed out on the floor.

When police arrived, they checked the man. They tell WKYT that they found drug paraphernalia on him. They also checked the backpack he was wearing. Police say they found what appeared to be a working meth lab inside. At that point, officers evacuated the store.

The man, who Nicholasville Police identified as 36-year old James Prater of Lancaster, was de-contaminated and checked out by EMT's. Prater was then arrested and charged with manufacturing meth, possession of meth, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police say they were able to isolate the contamination to the bathroom. The store was cleared for employees and customers to go back inside just before 11 Wednesday morning.

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