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OGDEN — An Ogden man who told his roommate he was cooking meth in the kitchen and not to call police is facing serious charges after the roommate called police, according to prosecutors.
Ricky Klyn Haws, 40, was charged Monday in 2nd District Court with operating a clandestine lab, a first-degree felony; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor.
The roommate called police on Jan. 30 after finding a pan in the oven the night before with a liquid in it, according to charging documents. Haws then approached the roommate and stated, "Don't take that out, I'm cooking meth, don't call the cops," the charges state.
But the next morning, the roommate "woke up and could smell a chemical smell in the home and could hear the oven beeping. (The roommate) went into the kitchen and discovered a pie platter in the oven with a milky white liquid in it and the oven was on. (He) then went outside and called police," according to the charges.
When officers arrived, they too detected a "chemical smell" when entering the home and found a measuring cup with crushed pills on the stove, the charges state.
One of the officers who responded to the residence was a former member of the Weber Morgan Narcotics Strike Force with extensive experience regarding meth labs. When he confronted Haws that he appeared to have a meth lab in his room, Haws claimed he was actually "distilling alcohol," the charges state.
A search warrant was then obtained for the residence.
Don't take that out, I'm cooking meth, don't call the cops.
–Ricky Klyn Haws, according to charging documents
"A search of the residence was conducted and items indicative of a clandestine methamphetamine lab were located and seized. Items that were located and seized included numerous containers of different chemicals, beakers of various sizes and shapes, as well as a notebook with chemical formulas written in it, among other items," according to the charges.
Haws was placed under arrest and then interviewed by detectives, during which he claimed he was not "cooking" meth but rather "experimenting with chemistry."
When he again claimed he was trying to make his own alcohol, police pointed out that the items found in his room are not used for making alcohol, the charges state. Haws then claimed he was attempting to make iodine from methamphetamines.
"Ricky claimed that he took college chemistry from UVU in 2017 and knows what he is doing. Ricky stated that he is not a chemist but only that he took the college course," the charges state. "Ricky stated that he has not seen any health effects from experimenting. Ricky stated that he has only been doing this for approximately a week."
Prosecutors have requested Haws be held without bail.
