At approximately 10:30 Wednesday night, Bay County Sheriff’s Office deputies and fire personnel responded to a residence at 26th Street and Grant Avenue in reference to a fire.

Once on the scene, it was evident that a meth lab was being operated within the home which had resulted in an explosion.

BCSO Special Investigations narcotics officers were called to the scene and found where a plastic bottle used to cook meth had exploded and another bottle was still in the “rolling” or cooking process.

The BCSO Methamphetamine Drug Unit responded and, using protective suits, were able to dismantle the lab safely.

Witnesses told investigators that a man within the home had been badly burned in the explosion and had just been driven away in a white Nissan truck.

The truck was soon located in the parking lot of a local hospital and investigators found Richard McPeek in the emergency room with severe burns over much of his body. Plans have been made to transport McPeek to a burn center in Georgia for treatment. Once he has completed treatment, McPeek will face numerous drug charges as investigators believe he was responsible for the meth lab within the home.

William Frampton, DOB 7/30/71, the owner of the residence at 2605 Grant Avenue was charged with Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Possession of Listed Chemicals, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Manufacture of Methamphetamine.

Another man, Timothy Hannah, DOB 1/24/71, of 3210 Minnesota Avenue, was also in the home when the explosion occurred and investigators believe he drove McPeek to the hospital.

Hannah attempted to drive away from the hospital in the white Nissan truck and was stopped by deputies and charged with Driving With License Suspended or Revoked.