A Peru man was arrested on Tuesday, July 1, after members of the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department discovered a methamphetamine lab in a residence.

Sheriff Frank Green said Jason Gorrell of Peru was arrested after deputies found him in the process of cooking methamphetamines. A full working methamphetamine laboratory with full containers of anhydrous ammonia was later discovered.

Green said after the lab was cleaned up by a hazardous materials team, deputies found 7.5 pounds of a substance that tested positive for methamphetamines. The street value of the drug was about $500,000 had Gorrell finished cooking the substance.

Green said deputies also recovered stolen weapons and “quite a bit of other evidence” after making the arrest.

“The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department has always had a no tolerance policy for drugs in this county, and I hope that this drug bust will send a strong message to those in the county who think they can get away with drug usage and sales,” Green said.

Information collected at the home also suggested that as many as two dozen other people are involved in the sale or consumption of the methamphetamines being prepared by Gorrell. More arrests are likely, the sheriff said.

Gorrell is expected to be charged with possession of methamphetamines, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Gorrell had his informal first appearance in Chautauqua County District Court on Monday, where bond was set at $50,000. A formal hearing will be held on Friday, July 11, in Sedan.

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