SAINT CLAIR - Shoppers going to Wal-Mart on Sunday morning were met by an unusual sight: a state police emergency clandestine lab drug team processing a vehicle housing a mobile methamphetamine lab.

Saint Clair police discovered the lab about 5 a.m. while investigating a hit-and-run crash in the store's parking lot.

As a result, Saint Clair police Chief Michael Carey said Felix Ferrer Jr., 39, of 1039 Penn St., Apt. 3R, Reading, was taken into custody while sleeping inside the Ford Windstar van that was struck by the hit-and-run driver.

Carey said Ferrer was committed to Schuylkill County Prison on a detainer for multiple bench warrants from Berks County on drug-related charges.

He will now face felony drug charges by Saint Clair police, as well as the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force.

Carey said the lab was discovered by Patrolman Chad Seitzinger, who was investigating a crash where another driver struck the van in which Ferrer was sleeping.

A look inside the van found an operational methamphetamine lab.

"We had the evidence, you could see the items and smell the product," Carey said.

After being read his Miranda Rights, Carey said Ferrer admitted to having the lab and making the illegal drugs.

Knowing some of the drugs were already mixed and posed a danger, Carey said it was decided to call the state police Clandestine Laboratory Response Team based in Bethlehem.

"The items were in plain view and from our training, we knew they can be hazardous," Carey said.

An area outside the food court entrance to the store was marked off with yellow police tape as state police troopers and technicians removed the hazardous materials from inside the van.

About 8:30 a.m., the CLRT arrived, donned hazardous material suits and began to remove the hazardous chemicals.

At Wal-Mart, it was business as usual with customers just being kept a safe distance from the van as they walked to and from their vehicles.

Carey said charges against Ferrer stemming from Sunday's meth lab discovery will be filed with Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon.