SOUTH BEND – Two Elkhart teachers were arrested Tuesday, police said, after a in-home meth lab sparked a fire.

According to Capt. Robert Hammer, with the Metro Special Operations Section, firefighters responded to the blaze at 511 E. Woodside St. about 1:30 a.m., and quickly extinguished the fire.

Hammer said police were called after firefighters discovered a suspected methamphetamine lab in an upstairs room.

Police found two women — 35-year-old Michelle Stancati and 35-year-old Maria Stancati — inside the home, and both were arrested in connection to the case. Besides the meth lab, police also report finding a large quantity of marijuana.

Courts were closed for election day Tuesday and no formal charges were filed.

Douglas Thorne, director of employee and student relations for Elkhart Community Schools, confirmed that both women work for the school system. He said the district is still investigating the matter.

Hammer said technicians from the Indiana State Police were called to investigate the scene. By Tuesday afternoon a collection of cans and bottles could be seen resting on the home’s driveway, as officers inventoried the items.

Because of the toxic nature of meth labs – the drug is made from a mixture of medicines, fertilizer and cleaning products – Hammer said extreme care was used to investigate the house.

"The house will be boarded up," Hammer said, "it’s a hazardous site inside and no one can occupy the house again until it’s been cleaned and cleared by the health department."

Despite the potential harm to nearby neighbors, Hammer said it’s believed the contamination was contained within the two-story brick structure.

Although three schools – Riley High School, Stanley Clark School and Monroe Primary Center – are within close proximity to the home, Hammer said parents or neighbors should not be worried.

"We believe that we have it contained," Hammer said, "and that it affected nobody other than the occupants of the home."

Although police are continuing to investigate the home, Hammer said it’s believed that a large quantity of meth was manufactured in the house.

Neighbors along Woodside said they didn’t know much about the residents of the home, and that the news of a meth lab was one more blow to the neighborhood.

On Oct. 19, police found 22-year-old James Martin-Wallace shot to death inside a home in the 100 block of East Woodside, about four blocks from the scene of the fire.

Hammer said finding a working meth lab in St. Joseph County is fairly rare, and he can’t remember a time when a lab caused a fire – although he worries the potential for danger is growing.

"It appears this was a fairly substantial lab," Hammer said. "So far, we can’t quantify how much has been made, but it appears that this has been a crime for awhile."

Hammer said police are still investigating the scene and other people might have been involved in running the lab. Police are asking that anyone with possible information about the lab to call the Metro Special Operations Section at 235-9406 or Crime Stoppers at 288-STOP.

Staff writer Dave Stephens:
dstephens@sbtinfo.com
(574) 235-6209