Sheriff’s narcotics agents break up small meth lab behind Chalmette house; 2 women arrested and a man sought; Three young children were decontaminated

Suspects Rachel Butler, in foreground, and Melissa Huy, in background, both of Chalmette, are handcuffed and sitting on the ground outside Huy’s home after their arrests late Wednesday afternoon.

St. Bernard firefighters put up a makeshift tent and provided water to decontaminate children and the suspects involved in the meth lab operation.

Narcotics Agent Daniel Bostic talks with the suspects on the ground, Rachel Butler in the foreground and Melissa Huy in the background.

Cpl. Jessica Gernados of the St. Bernard sheriff’s Narcotics Unit puts on a decontamination suit, aided by a parish firefighter, as she prepares to decontaminate three young children who lived in a Chalmette house where a small meth lab was operating in a shed behind the home, authorities said.

Two women were arrested and one’s husband is sought after St. Bernard Parish narcotics agents broke up a small meth lab behind a Chalmette house late Wednesday afternoon, acting on information that three young children in the house could be in danger, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Two girls, one an infant 5 months-old and the other 7 years-old, and a 4-year-old boy, lived with their mother and her husband at the house at 14 West Chalmette Circle, just off St. Bernard Highway across from the port of St. Bernard office building, the sheriff said.

All three children were decontaminated as a precaution, in a makeshift tent set up outside by St. Bernard firefighters, then were to be taken to Children’s Hospital for examination.

Arrested about 5 p.m. were Melissa Huy, 38, mother of the children, who lived at the house with her husband, Dino Huy Jr., 26. Also arrested was Rachel Butler, 34, 2817 Mumphrey Road, Chalmette, who was in the house, Sheriff Pohlomann said. Both will be booked with manufacture of methamphetamine and endangerment of juveniles.

Dino Huy wasn’t home and is being sought on the same counts, the sheriff said. Narcotics agent spoke with the husband by cell phone but he hadn’t surrendered by Wednesday evening and a warrant for his arrest will be sought, authorities said. They said Dino Huy is currently on probation from St. Tammany Parish for possession of amphetamine.

The two women were also to be decontaminated as a precaution before they can be brought into St. Bernard Prison to be booked.

Narcotics agents, commanded by Major Chad Clark, had received information that meth might be being made at the residence and the children there could be in danger.

Officers found bottles and ingredients for making meth in a shed behind the house and described it as a small meth operation, the sheriff said.

He said sheriff’s officials believe meth was being made and used and the house will be searched Wednesday night with the help of a meth team from the St. Tammany Sheriff’s Office. The federal Drug Enforcement Administration is sending a clean-up crew for the house, the sheriff said.