Hamlet Police Arrest Fire Victim on Meth Charges, Investigation Continues

Meth BustThe Hamlet man whose trailer was destroyed by an early morning fire Tuesday is jailed on numerous drug charges after local police officers reportedly found a meth lab in the rubble. Hamlet Police arrested David Salyer, 45,  at 2:10 Tuesday morning on preliminary charges of manufacture and possession of methamphetamine, possession of two or more precursors with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, false informing and maintaining a common nuisance. The Hamlet Volunteer Fire Department responded at 12:34 a.m. to 504 North Starke Street, lot 10 and left at 2:18 a.m., according to dispatch records. The Koontz Lake Volunteer Fire Department was called in to assist. It’s unclear at this time whether the fire was caused by the meth lab. Officers from the Hamlet Police Department secured the property until an investigator from the state fire marshal’s office arrived with a search warrant at 9 a.m. Tuesday. His report is pending. The Indiana State Police Clandestine Lab Team cleaned up the lab remnants. No injuries were reported. Hamlet Police Officer Kyle Hinds says it’s uncertain if anyone else was at the trailer when the fire started.