Methamphetamine can be cooked in a number of ways, and allegedly one man was recently caught cooking it while driving his car.

The incident took place Wednesday when the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department received a call about a car being driven in a reckless manner. Deputy Abe Villa responded to the call and saw the vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed and running a stop sign, said Chief Investigator Donnie Saucier.

Villa stopped the car at the intersection of West Union Road and Kirkland Road. David Shawn Cospelich, 33, of 631 Smithtown Rd., Wiggins was found behind the wheel. As Villa worked the incident, he noticed Cospelich acting in a suspicious manner, putting his hands in and out of his pocket.

Cospelich was searched for the officer’s safety and a knife and a Tylenol bottle with nine Lortabs and nine and a half Xanax in it was found in his pockets, Saucier said. Cospelich was asked if he had anything else on him and he told the officer he did not. When Villa asked to search the vehicle, Cospelich declined to give permission.

Villa called Cpl. Mike Smith to come and assist with the help of K-9 officer Pasja, Saucier said. Pasja made a run around the vehicle and indicated that it may contain illegal substances. A search of the vehicle found an active methamphetamine lab inside, still cooking the drug.

A plastic bag containing one gram of methamphetamine also was found in the car, Saucier said.

Narcotics investigator Sgt. Rob Williams, who is certified in knowing how to safely deal with meth labs, was called to the scene to provide skills. Williams processed the scene and called out a Hazmat crew to clean up the hazardous materials.

Some other items recovered from the vehicle included lighter fluid, drain cleaner, salt, ammonium nitrate and lithium, Saucier said.

Cospelich was charged with running a stop sign, felony possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of a controlled substance (prescription medication), manufacture of a controlled substance and possession of precursor chemicals, Saucier said.