Meth lab raided in upscale Reno neighborhood

Friday, Oct. 2, 1998 | 4:45 a.m.

About a dozen homes in the neighborhood near Rancho San Rafael Park were evacuated for several hours late Thursday night and into Friday morning because police feared the chemicals used in the operation could be explosive.

In most cases, methamphetamine operations are set up in hotels or apartments where dealers can rent and move out quickly, police said.

But this residence at 677 Citadel Way is "a very nice house" in a neighborhood of homes worth $250,000 or more, Reno police Sgt. Bob Towery told the Daily Sparks Tribune.

Tony Ray Lowery, 39, was arrested on a variety of drug charges and was being held in the Washoe County jail in lieu of $29,000.

Lowery allegedly was in the process of cooking meth in a lab in his garage at the time of the raid. Lowery's wife and children were at home during the raid.

He has been charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, conspiracy to maintain a place to sell a controlled substance and two counts of child endangerment.

Towery says he also likely will be charged with drug trafficking.