Police: Man was burned by meth lab fire, not by acid

A Monroe County man who claimed he was critically injured when someone dumped acid on him was actually burned in a meth lab fire, Stroud Area Regional police said.

The victim, who has not been identified, was flown to a hospital after he was located at 7:42 p.m. Wednesday in an alley between North Sixth and North Seventh streets in Stroudsburg, police Capt. Paul Gasper said.

The man was burned and in severe pain, claiming someone dumped acid on him, Gasper said.

But as police continued to investigate and search the area, they discovered that the incident happened in a residence in the 200 block North Sixth Street in a fire to the rear of the home, he said.

Stroudsburg fire crews responded and entered the home to make sure no one was inside and smelled a strong odor of butane. Firefighters also found materials used for making methamphetamine.

At 4:30 a.m. Thursday, police obtained a search warrant and members of the state police Clandestine Laboratory Response Team arrived to assist in the investigation.

In a news release, Stroud Area Regional police said they determined the injured man was at or near the rear door of the home when the fire happened, and “this was not a random act of an unknown male dumping acid on someone.”

The injured man fled to a nearby alley, where he was found by police. He remains in the hospital in critical condition, police said.

Police said there were other people involved in the incident and they do not live at the residence where the fire happened.

Gasper said they have all been interviewed and the investigation is ongoing.

Morning Call reporter Manuel Gamiz Jr. can be reached at 610-820-6595 or at mgamiz@mcall.com.