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Warrant reveals new details into BYU student soap or meth operation

Deseret News, November 28, 2014

PROVO — Drain cleaner, lighter fluid, acetone, denatured alcohol and various empty blister packs of items containing pseudoephedrine were some of the items collected by investigators looking into whether a BYU student was making soap or methamphetamine, according to a newly released search warrant.

Bryce Cazier, 21, was charged Nov. 10 in 4th District Court with having precursors or equipment for a clandestine laboratory, a first-degree felony.

Provo police, the Utah Major Crimes Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Agency believe Cazier, a BYU student studying Spanish who is also a returned missionary, had a meth lab set up inside his room at the Riviera Apartments, 1505 N. Canyon Road, next to the BYU campus.

His attorney, however, says Cazier has legitimate hobbies that include making his own products, like soap, using herbal extracts.

The alleged lab was discovered by Cazier's roommates following a small fire inside his room. After the fire, Cazier left for Salt Lake City with two duffel bags of undisclosed items, according to police.

According to a newly released search warrant affidavit and return to the warrant served on both the apartment and Cazier's vehicle, investigators retrieved a laptop, "multiple glass and plastic jars and bottles containing various unknown liquids, chemicals including drain cleaner (sulfuric acid), lighter fluid, acetone, denatured alcohol, Coleman fuel, and various alcoholic beverages, various empty blister packs of items containing pseudoephedrine, lithium battery packs, coffee filters with white powdery residue, glass and plastic bottles with tubing coming out the top, blender, digital scale, large containers of salt, and various other bottles, containers and liquids."

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 10.