A 27-year-old Tamaqua man is facing multiple drug-related charges after detection of a suspected mobile meth lab caused tense moments Tuesday night in Hometown.

Sgt. Duane Frederick, Rush Township police, said Justin D. Pakosky was taken into custody after admitting he was responsible for parking a car in a private lot along Route 309, Claremont Avenue, which was observed filling with smoke.The vehicle, police believe, was a mobile methamphetamine lab parked just three or four feet from busy Route 309 in the heart of the Hometown shopping district.Fast work by two police officers on routine patrol averted what could have been a disaster.Cpl. Adam Sinton and Officer Lucas Fox noticed what appeared to be an abandoned 1997 Honda CR-V hatchback parked near Maple Street and Claremont Avenue on the northbound side of the highway. All of the vehicle's windows were slightly rolled down.The vacant lot formerly housed HCS&K Tire and has not been used in years."Two very alert policemen went to check and they saw smoke inside a car. It was billowing out," Frederick said.Thinking at first it was a car fire, the officers summoned Hometown Fire Company about 7 p.m.However, further investigation revealed that the car, filled with smoke and fumes, contained contents consistent with a methamphetamine lab with possibility of combustion."You could actually see the haze coming out," Frederick said.Officials felt there was a chance of explosion and the situation posed potential danger to the public.Frederick immediately summoned the Pennsylvania State Police Clandestine Lab Response Team based in Reading.The team arrived in Hometown at 9 p.m. with equipment including safe breathing apparatus. Members set up operations with portable lighting, folding tables, and equipment to neutralize the situation.They then began to retrieve and document contents, creating an inventory of materials found inside the vehicle. Numerous bottles and other items were discovered, Frederick said.Fire police Capt. Merle Wertman, Lt. Joe Shamonsky Jr. and Matt Witkowski secured the scene.Shamonsky said the danger zone was located just 100 yards from a girls' softball field and 300 yards from Rush Elementary School.In addition, the car was situated in close proximity to not only passing motorists on Route 309, but nearby businesses and the Cumberland Avenue residential neighborhood.Fire police set up lighted signage and safety cones to divert traffic away from the vehicle.Wertman said the fire police installed police safety tape along the perimeter and added barriers to prevent anyone from passing near the car.Frederick said police ran a search on the car's license plate as part of the investigation.Police then spoke to the owner of the vehicle via phone who admitted to parking his car in the vacant lot. After further investigation, Pakosky was taken into custody and charged with manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and two counts of liquefied ammonia gas; precursors and chemicals. Pakosky is awaiting arraignment.The investigation is continuing.