Two men were arrested Tuesday outside a Taco Bell in Cedar Rapids, Iowa after police found the remnants of a meth lab inside the fast food restaurant. One of the men, who apparently took the fast food chain's motto "Live mas" to heart, was an employee at the location and has since been fired.
The pair's alleged enterprise came crumbling down when a call to police in the wee hours of Tuesday morning reporting "suspicious persons" outside of the fast food restaurant known for its convenient Mexican-American fusion delicacies.
Officers contacted a manager who allowed them inside where the remnants of a meth lab was discovered, resulting in the arrest of the two men, who have been identified as 31-year-old Christopher Adam Matous and 56-year-old Kent Jerome Duby. According to the Cedar Rapids police department, both were charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine while Matous faces multiple additional chemical possession charges.
Two men were arrested after the remnants of a meth lab were found inside a @tacobell: cops. http://t.co/V1SYvawNeJ pic.twitter.com/qTbVC72Of0— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) August 5, 2015
The restaurant has been closed until the health department can provide a full inspection of the premises.
Taco Bell issued the following statement, confirming the termination of the employee, though it was not revealed which of the two men was employed at that location.
We understand that two people, one an employee, entered our franchisee’s restaurant illegally, allegedly possessing suspicious items. Both we and our franchisee find this completely unacceptable. Our franchisee has been cooperating with Cedar Rapids Police to investigate this isolated incident. Although the suspicious items found in the restaurant were not used in the kitchen, the employee has been terminated and our franchisee is considering pressing criminal charges. The restaurant will reopen after it has been sanitized and inspected by the Health Department.
Meth lab remnants uncovered at an Iowa Taco Bell; employee arrested http://t.co/YQFLjeJTHp pic.twitter.com/PQpCg5WDzi— KTLA (@KTLA) August 5, 2015
In addition to the health department inspection, Taco Bell is reportedly bringing in an independent environmental firm to inspect the restaurant as well.