Crime & Justice

At Wasilla traffic stop, a flight, a fight and a mobile meth lab discovered

Alaska State Troopers say they discovered a mobile meth lab following a Wasilla traffic stop that ended in a foot chase, a fight and an arrest Sunday night.

Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters wrote that the lab was a "one-pot method of cooking meth."

The incident began when troopers tried to stop a white Subaru Legacy for failing to use a turn signal shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday. Troopers wrote in an online dispatch that a man, later identified as 29-year-old Jordan Melton, of Wasilla, leapt from the vehicle while it was still moving and fled officers on foot. Peters estimated the vehicle was traveling at about 10 mph when Melton jumped from the vehicle.

"Melton exited the vehicle carrying the lab kit in a bag," Peters wrote in an email. "Melton threw the bag as he attempted to flee."

When an officer caught up with him, troopers said, he fought the officer, injuring him before being arrested. Troopers found that Melton had an outstanding $25,000 felony warrant for multiple counts of misconduct involving a controlled substance and that he was in possession of "a mobile methamphetamine lab and controlled substances," troopers wrote.

Peters said that Melton was in possession of prescription drugs used in the manufacture of meth.

Melton was charged with second-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, fourth-degree assault on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest, in addition to the charges listed in the warrant. He was held without bail.

Troopers said the arresting officer was treated for minor injuries of his hand at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center.

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