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Report Of Elder Abuse Leads To Lancaster Meth Lab, Firearms Cache

LANCASTER (CBS) — A Lancaster man accused of elder abuse faced drug possession and weapons charges on Wednesday after deputies made a return visit to his residence.

On June 15, 2012, deputies from Lancaster Sheriff's Station responded to the 600 block of E. Lancaster Boulevard in response to a possible elder abuse call where Frederick Garrabrant, 59, was eventually arrested on charges of elder abuse and possession of methamphetamine.

The back "house" in which Garrabrant had been living was also referred to Lancaster Code Enforcement for numerous heath code and safety violations.

On June 21, 2012, deputies from the Lancaster C.O.R.E. (Community Oriented Response and Enforcement) Team were called back to the location by code enforcement officials in response to a suspected meth lab.

At the time of the suspect's arrest he had signed a release for his parents to gain access to a locked safe, and authorized them to sell his weapons inside to recoup costs of the property clean-up.

While code enforcement was there to assist the family in the clean-up, an employee from a safe company hired by the suspect's family, opened Garrabrant's safe and found chemicals consistent with those used to manufacture methamphetamine.

In addition to the chemicals they found three rifles, and one shotgun inside.

Code enforcement officers secured the location, and once deputies arrived they obtained a search warrant and also found chemicals which may be precursors to explosives.

Multiple agencies were involved in the investigation, including the Los Angeles County Arson and Explosives Unit, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Chemist, Narcotics, and Hazmat units.

Garrabrant was additionally charged for the violations.

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