Meth lab found during arrest of burglary suspect


The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office found the components of a meth lab when deputies arrested a Cleveland man accused of burglarizing a residence on Mansion Hill Circle.

On Sunday April 24, the elderly residents reported someone had forced entry into their home through a back door.  Several prescription drugs and money were taken.

The Criminal Investigations Division was able to recover several fingerprints from the residence, which were matched to Billy Ray Zumstein by fingerprint technician Monica Datz in the department’s forensics lab.   Warrants were issued for aggravated burglary, theft under $500 and vandalism and on May 1st Zumstein was taken into custody on southeast 20th Street.

When deputies served the warrants they found a meth lab inside a recreational vehicle on the property.

Sheriff Tim Gobble credits the success of this investigation to the Criminal Investigations Division and the forensics lab being able to match a finger print that was taken from the scene of the crime with one in the local database.  

Additional charges related to the investigation could be filed including charges against two other people who were present when deputies found the meth lab.  Zumstein, who is 31 years old and gave an address of Blythe Avenue,  remains in the custody of the Bradley County jail.