COUPLE ARRESTED FOR RUNNING A METH LAB OUT OF A DAYCARE!

Snack time could have been terrifying at a North Carolina day care center that was discovered to also house a secret meth lab.

Police arrested the owner of Kit Kat's Place Family Child Care and her boyfriend Tuesday after records showing the pair had purchased large amounts of pseudoephedrine -- a key component for cooking methamphetamine -- raised red flags.

"It’s not good to have a meth lab period," said Sgt. Rick Hasson, who made the bust in Morganton, N.C. "To show up at one that is licensed as a day care is that much worse … I hope this is the last one we ever run across that is a licensed day care."

Katrina Epperson, 27, received her license to operate the day care center the same day investigators swarmed the place and cuffed her, local health department spokeswoman Lori Walston told the Morganton News Herald.

No children had yet been enrolled at the center, which was cleared to care for up to eight kids up to age 12.

Cops also busted Epperson's boyfriend, 32-year-old Christopher Webb, who appears to have been living with Epperson at the residence they allegedly set up as a day care on the ground floor and a meth kitchen in the basement.

They both were held in lieu of $25,000 bail, and Epperson's license to operate a day care immediately was suspended.

Epperson has four children -- all under age 10 -- who were taken into custody by social services.

Local authorities said it was the first time a day care has been used to front a methamphetamine lab in the area.

"I think it is alarming to all of us, not only for the children who could have been there but for our staff that has to monitor it," said health department official Tammy Barnes.

"I guess people are using anything they can for a cover, and it’s just really scary to all of us."


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