State Fire Marshal H. “Butch” Browning released information in reference to an early morning residential fire in Ascension Parish that was caused by the occupants cooking clandestine drugs in the bathroom. This joint investigation with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office resulted in three criminal arrests for arson and drug related crimes.

The Galvez-lake Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched at 2:09am this morning to 41486 Waterstone Drive in Prairieville to a report that a home was on fire. When firefighters arrived they discovered the home to be completely involved in flames. No one was in the home when they arrived. Damage was determined to be in excess of $180,000.00.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office was called to investigate the cause of this fire and determined that an active drug lab was in operation designed to make methamphetamines. The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit immediately joined the investigation. The fire was determined to be caused by the operation of this drug lab. After nearly a 12 hour investigation three persons were arrested and charged with the cause of this fire and drug crimes.

The owner of the home Clinton John Auzenne Jr. (dob. 9-8-1982) was charged with simple arson and creating and operating a clandestine drug lab. An occupant of the home David Lee Harris (dob. 6-19-1977) was charged with simple arson and creating and operating a clandestine drug lab. The final arrest was a visitor at the home, Megan Gaspard (dob. 1-25-1986) she was also charged with simple arson, creating and operating a clandestine drug lab and an unrelated bench warrant. All three were booked into the Ascension Parish Jail with no bond set at this time.

Fire Marshal Browning stated, “This was a serious fire that endangered the public and first responders, we are very happy that arrests have been made and these persons will see our justice system for their alleged crimes. Our office and the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office worked together as an exceptional team and served the public very well as we determined the facts of this fire.”

David Harris

Megan Gaspard

Clint Auzenne