KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Neighbors say they had no idea there was an active meth lab inside a downtown Lafollette commercial building, just feet away from their homes.

"It's crazy seeing all that stuff laid out and my nephew comes over to my house a lot - yeah it's scary," said Brett Martin, who lives next door.

Lafollette police arrested 33-year-old Mark Longmire after he led police on a high speed chase through the city. Police found Longmire at his apartment with a backpack of allegedly stolen goods. They then searched his home locating more TV’s, gun's and stereo equipment that was allegedly stolen and 6 to 8 bottles of methamphetamines cooking.

"Most of our cooks around here are doing what's called the one pot method. And they're using Gatorade bottles, coke bottles anywhere from 20 ounce to liter bottles," said Detective Sergeant Jason Henegar.

Police say Longmire could have been turning a profit of $8,000 a week with his operation and it's the largest they've found in the city.

"That building is quarantined. Nobody's allowed in or out without being suited up in Tyvek and it's going to cost the building owner a small fortune to clean it up," said Lt. Jeff Allen of the Lafollette police department.

Investigators say meth activity hasn't slowed down and the mobility of the bottles being used to produce the product may be spreading it faster.

"They can ride around out in the county with it and then when they get done with it they take the product out and they throw the remains away," said Allen.