Staff report
A mushroom lab may have been in operation in a Maupin Avenue home for months or years, authorities say. And the man accused of running the lab is a pharmacist by education who police say kept extensive records his work.
Salisbury Police continued the clean up today after discovering the lab at the home of Charles Edward “Eddie” Earnhardt, 523 Maupin Ave.
The lab was discovered Wednesday afternoon when police and first responders went to the house for a welfare check. Earnhardt’s father called police after failed attempts to contact his son.
Earnhardt, who was found lying in the floor in the back of the house, remains at Rowan Regional Medical Center. His condition has improved.
Steve Whitley, deputy chief of police, said today that Earnhardt had extensive notes in books on his growing operations.
The lab consumed an 8-foot by 10-foot room and was equipped as a science lab.
Police said Earnhardt’s pharmacy degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was on the wall.
Whitley said police don’t yet know if Earnhardt was selling the psychedelic mushrooms. “Given the amount of stuff, the dozens of test tubes, mason jars, recipes, it was way above personal consumption.”
Once police have assembled all of the investigative materials they will meet with Rowan County District Attorney Bill Kenerly to determine what charges to file.
And police have already taken steps through city code enforcement and the Rowan County Health Department to ensure the house is thoroughly cleaned and all hazards removed.