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Suspected meth lab explosion is symptom of York Co. problem

ROCK HILL, S.C.,None — A father is outraged about a suspected meth lab that exploded just feet from where his children play Wednesday.

James Stout's neighbor, Carl Yelvington, was arrested and charged with manufacturing meth in a backyard shed on Rock Castle Drive in York County.

"It was so loud it shook the house," said Stout.

Yelvington was rushed to a hospital with burns to his upper body before he was taken to jail Wednesday. It's the second time he's been charged with manufacturing meth in two months. He is in jail without bond.

"When it blew, there were parts and pieces of that shed in my back yard, projectiles. If my twins or my teenagers were playing back here, they could have gotten killed," said Stout.

Narcotics investigators said there have been 10 confirmed meth labs in York County this year. Gaston County has had only two, and Mecklenburg County has had three. South Carolina state investigators said they haven't had to clean up any meth labs this year in Lancaster or Chester counties.

Capt. Marvin Brown said the labs seem to be getting more dangerous. He said there have been three explosions in the county from meth labs this year.

Investigators said they support a tougher state law that would make it illegal to buy the active ingredient in meth without a prescription.