3 Held After Theft Leads Police to Meth Lab

A man’s arrest in a Tustin business theft Saturday led to the discovery of a meth lab in Santa Ana and two more arrests, police said.

According to Tustin police, a business on Myford Road reported about 11 a.m. Saturday that a large quantity of aluminum siding had been stolen. Later that day, a 911 call reported a burglary in progress at the same place.

Police said they found Don Echols, 42, of Tustin loading aluminum into a truck and onto a flatbed trailer hitched to the truck. The trailer, it turned out, had been reported stolen in Riverside in November, police said.

Echols had apparently made several trips to the Myford Road business and had sold about a ton of the aluminum to local recycling plants for a little more than $4,000, said Tustin Police Lt. Jim Peery.

Based on a difference in the amount reported missing and the amount Echols reportedly sold to recyclers, police asked him whether he had any more of the metal stored elsewhere. Peery said Echols gave police permission to search his painting business on Walnut Street in Santa Ana.

Once there, police discovered an illegal lab for manufacturing methamphetamine.

The immediate area was evacuated, and police, along with investigators from the state’s Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, dismantled the lab.

Police said an undisclosed amount of the drug, as well as chemicals and equipment used to make it, were seized.

Echols was booked into Orange County Jail on suspicion of grand theft, possession of stolen property and drug-related charges.

Jon Alderman, 47, of Santa Ana was arrested at the painting business on suspicion of possessing stolen goods. Steven Losoya, 37, of Santa Ana, who was also at the business, was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

More arrests may be made, Peery said.