Joshua W. Pittsley (Cortland County Sheriff's Office)
CORTLAND, N.Y. — Authorities searched the home of a Cortland County man Sunday and found lab equipment used to manufacture methamphetamine, according to the Cortland County Sheriff's Office.
At around 4 p.m. Sunday, sheriff's deputies were called to a home on Truxton Tully Road after a neighbor reported a chemical smell coming from the residence. When deputies first arrived at the home, the residents were not there, and they waited until two of the residents came back.
The two residents of the home in question were interviewed, and investigators from the Cortland County Sheriff's Office applied for a search warrant.
Inside the residence, authorities found several components used to manufacture methamphetamine—including lab equipment, solvents, precursors, and reagents—along with a small amount of methamphetamine, according to Lt. Todd Caufield with the sheriff's office.
The following day, the New York State Police Contaminated Crime Scene Emergency Response Team arrived at the residence to assist sheriff's deputies with the cleanup and removal of meth manufacturing items.
Only one of the residents was arrested. Joshua W. Pittsley, 36, of Truxton, was charged with felonies of unlawful manufacturing of methamphetamine, unlawful disposal of meth lab material, and criminally using drug paraphernalia. He was also charged with misdemeanor drug possession and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation.
Pittsley was arraigned in Homer Town Court and is due in Truxton Town Court on March 27 at 1 p.m.
The investigation is continuing and additional charges are possible, Lt. Caufield said.
