In brief: Police say man carried meth lab

Police arrested a man this weekend who was apparently carrying a methamphetamine lab in a backpack.

About 9 p.m. Saturday, officers were responding to a reported burglary in the 2700 block of North Cook Street when they found a neighbor struggling to detain a suspect, according to the Spokane Police Department. An officer intervened and put Helmut Borchert, 52, into handcuffs – and began coughing due to smoke and chemicals coming from Borchert’s backpack, police said.

Borchert reportedly told the officer he had a meth lab in the backpack. A hazardous materials team disposed of the chemicals inside, police said.

Borchert was booked into the Spokane County Jail for second-degree burglary, and drug charges are pending.