Rowan authorities filed additional charges against a man who was arrested a few days ago and charged with creating a meth lab at his Locke Street apartment and in a local storage unit.
Investigators with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office charged Thomas David Martinez, 27, of the 1000 block of Locke Street, with six counts of felony possession of a immediate precursor chemical, one count felony possession of a controlled substance schedule II and one count felony manufacturing a controlled substance schedule II.
He remains in the Rowan County jail under an added $500,000 secured bond, bringing his total bond to $750,000.
Martinez, known as “the Chemist” is believed to have taken some college-level chemistry courses, officials say.
Sheriff’s officials received information a week ago that Martinez was traveling in a vehicle in Rockwell and had crystal methamphetamine and a pistol.
He had 29 grams of crystal meth and a loaded 9 mm handgun. He was arrested at that time, officials said.
Authorities went to Martinez’s apartment and found a meth lab using a process known as “red-p cook,” referring to red phosphorous. This method is extremely dangerous and is rarely seen in this part of North Carolina, officials said.
Investigators discovered the meth produced in the storage unit used three different cooking processes — the one pot or “shake and bake” method that is more commonly found in this area, the “red-p” method and an older, rarely ever seen method known as “p-2-p,” which stands for phenyl-2-propanone.
Authorities had already charged Martinez with possession with intent to sell methamphetamine, trafficking methamphetamine by possession, trafficking methamphetamine by transportation, trafficking methamphetamine by manufacture, manufacture of methamphetamine, two counts of possession of meth precursor chemicals with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a concealed weapon.

Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.