A Santa Paula area man was arrested by Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputies on suspicion of several drug charges, weapon charges and elderly abuse, according to a VCSD statement.
The residence and property of Antonio “Tony” Nava, 60, located in the 100 block of Whipple Road east of city limits, was searched by a warrant action Friday, December 2 by deputies, who found a methamphetamine lab in a metal shed about 30 feet from the home.
Nava’s 80-year-old mother, who is disabled, lives in the primary residence on the property in the rural area off East Telegraph Road, just east of the Santa Paula Creek Bridge. In addition, deputies said they found evidence that two people “caught themselves on fire” about two weeks about while manufacturing the drug in the shed.
“Due to the normal hazards of a methamphetamine laboratory, a specialized methamphetamine lab team along with forensic scientists” were summoned to the home to process the hazardous materials, deputies said. Ingredients used in the manufacture of methamphetamine are both highly toxic and explosive. Deputies did not reveal what evidence led them to believe a fire had occurred in the shed.
Investigators had spent a month looking into Nava’s alleged activities before serving the warrant. Nava was taken into custody for suspicion of sales of methamphetamine, manufacturing methamphetamine, firearm charges and elderly abuse.
He was taken to Ventura County Jail where he was being held on bail of $250,000. Nava is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Ventura County Superior Court.
