Corpus Christi police: Man had mobile meth lab in his car

Car parked outside motel where theft occurred, police say

CORPUS CHRISTI - Corpus Christi police discovered a mobile methamphetamine lab Sunday in the car of a man accused of stealing items from a woman's purse at a local motel.

Officers were called about 12:20 a.m. to a motel in the 4400 block of Ocean Drive and met an employee who said she was the victim of a theft.

The woman said she was cleaning a room and left to get more supplies with her purse and mp3 player still in the room, police said.

She returned to find a man and woman in the room who said they left their lighter. The employee later discovered her personal items were missing and called police.

Officers arrived to find a 22-year-old man at the motel fitting the description of the purse thief. As he was walking away, the woman's cell phone fell out of his pocket, police said.

Police arrested Aaron James Rabb, 22, and discovered he had a pipe and cocaine on him.

His car was located nearby and officers found the makings of a methamphetamine lab inside, including bags with different powders, filters, funnels and various chemicals, police said.

He was arrested on suspicion of theft, possession of a controlled substance, transfer of a chemical lab apparatus for unlawful manufacture, failure to identify and two outstanding warrants from Nueces County.

Rabb was being held Monday at the Nueces County jail on $14,000 bail.

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