Police say Hollywood man with meth lab wanted to make bombs (Florida)

By Brian Haas
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

HOLLYWOOD · A man suspected of running a methamphetamine lab out of his home told detectives he wanted to make bombs instead, because making the drug proved too difficult, a federal complaint said Wednesday.

Gene Cruncleton, 54, appeared in federal court Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, accused of attempted manufacture of methamphetamines in his home in the 600 block of South 64th Avenue. He is being held by authorities pending a bond hearing.

Authorities say they seized several handguns, high-powered rifles and shotguns, about a thousand rounds of ammunition, meth ingredients and possible bomb-making chemicals from Cruncleton's home on Tuesday. Police evacuated three-dozen homes in the neighborhood Tuesday afternoon because the chemicals used to make meth are highly explosive.

Despite the fact detectives believe Cruncleton's home was a small, "mom and pop" meth lab, it was the second seized in Broward County in a month and could herald a growing problem in South Florida, said Special Agent Jeanette Moran, spokeswoman for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

"That's definitely on the upswing down here," Moran said. "Where we typically see them is in North Florida or central, in rural areas. It's slowly moved its way to the east coast and down toward our area."

Cruncleton's problems began Tuesday morning, when neighbors say he got into a shouting match with his girlfriend, identified in the federal complaint as Jane Garrette.

"She said that he threatened to kill her and if he follows her to call the cops," said Larry Fitzpatrick, one of Cruncleton's neighbors who overheard the argument.After Garrette left Cruncleton's home, she called Hollywood police and said Cruncleton had a drug lab in his home, the complaint said.

When police arrived, Cruncleton allowed them to search his home, admitted he had tried to make crystal meth and told them he purchased ammonium nitrate over the Internet to make bombs, the complaint said.

"Cruncleton also stated that he liked to make things explode," Special Agent Brian M. Geraghty wrote in the complaint. It did not say what plans Cruncleton had for the explosives.

Merilea Ordoqui, who lived across from Cruncleton, said she was intimidated at first by the sight of the burly biker when she moved in three years ago. He proved to be a "gentle giant," she said, allowing children to use his pool and helping neighbors during last year's hurricane season. She said she was impressed with the way Cruncleton took care of his 20-year-old, severely handicapped son. The son has since been placed in a relative's home.

Ordoqui said she was frightened at the prospect of a meth house -- and bomb-making materials -- a few hundred feet away from her home.

"The fact that there's something in that room, that house right there, that could blow up " she said, shuddering. "It's very disappointing. It's scary."

Brian Haas can be reached at bhaas@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4597.

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