EDWARDSVILLE, IL – A former chemistry graduate student at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) is facing charges of operating a methamphetamine lab on campus. Suspicions arose during last year’s Thanksgiving break when an SIUE professor found something unusual in the Science West building. Spectrometer testing then revealed substances reportedly produced by meth synthesis.
Campus police examined the incident further. SIUE Police Chief David Goodwin lauded the collaborative work of his staff, whose meticulous investigations eventually led to an arrest.
The SIUE police found that the only individual who used electronic access to enter the Science West Building between November 22 and 27, 2023, and possessed a key to room 3000, besides the reporting professor, was Jeremy Smalling.
According to court records, a team of six investigators followed Smalling’s movements. On January 10, officers observed that Smalling carried presumed meth production materials into his apartment. They also noted that Smalling kept his bedroom window open during the purchase despite the chilly 36-degree Fahrenheit temperature.
Smalling is now facing four felony charges, including aggravated involvement in meth production and possession with an intention to distribute.
A university representative confirmed that Smalling, who was previously enrolled as an SIUE student, no longer has access to the campus. Court documents reveal that Smalling lived with three other university students at the time of his arrest. Following Smalling’s arrest, all three roommates had to be evacuated from the living premises and relocated.