Published in the February 23, 2017 edition
BY BILL LAFORME
NORTH READING – As of Tuesday afternoon, police were continuing their search for the second suspect in an alleged drug making operation that was discovered after a house fire in town this month.
Last week, 28-year-old North Reading resident Lowell Navarro was arraigned in Woburn District Court on charges of possession with intent to distribute a Class B substance, and conspiracy to violate drug laws. Police are still searching for alleged accomplice Jacob Stanish, 31, also of North Reading. Bail was reportedly set for Navarro at $2,000 cash.
The house fire on Traveled Way in North Reading was reported at 11:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7. While at the scene, police and fire personnel reported that they observed black smoke and an odor not associated with the average house fire. Warrants were issued for both occupants of the house soon after.
An announcement from the office of District Attorney Marian Ryan said that after the fire was extinguished, authorities allegedly discovered a small 5×3 foot room allegedly containing a small glass closed case apparently used as a small laboratory, along with an overhead venting system, glass cylinders and beakers, containers of various chemicals, and a white powdery substance. The white powder allegedly tested positive for MDMA, the main component of the drug ecstasy.
The next scheduled hearing for Navarro is Friday, April 14
