Officer Charged With Trying to Make Meth in Government Lab

A police officer working at a federal laboratory has been charged with trying to make meth at the lab.

Authorities learned of the police officer’s activities after an explosion at a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) lab in Maryland in July, the Washington Post reports.

The Post reports that the police supervisor, Christopher Bartley, has been charged with “knowingly and intentionally attempt[ing] to manufacture a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.” He resigned after the explosion.

His lawyer has said Bartley wanted to learn more about the drug by making it. He was acting alone and had no intention of selling it, the lawyer said.

[Washington Post]