Home invasion, shooting investigation led deputies to possible meth lab

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A home invasion in Bithlo early Wednesday morning ended with the resident shot in the leg and the discovery of a possible meth lab in Alafaya Palms trailer park later in the evening.

Deputies evacuated about 20 homes and cordoned off an entrance to the neighborhood, which remained blocked for several hours.

Orange County deputies believe Ian Davidson was the triggerman in the earlier botched robbery and Heather Johnston was the getaway driver.

“She seems to be the source of problems around the Bithlo area,” said Det. Jason Sams with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Police said after the home invasion, the pair wound up in the trailer park at some point to hide, but Davidson arrested at a separate location.

While police were investigating the initial hiding spot, they came across a potential meth lab.

Three people were decontaminated by firefighters, but denied that meth was in the trailer.

“We didn’t see any meth,” said one of the women, who was not identified.

A man at the scene, who also did not want to be identified, was also in the possible meth trailer.

“They woke me up and told me to get out,” he said. “They took our clothes and washed us down, hosed us down.”

Johnston and Davidson have extensive criminal backgrounds.

Johnston is on probation for battery on a police officer and cocaine possession.

He was arrested and booked into the Orange County jail.

Authorities said Johnston is considered a person of interest and is cooperating with the investigation.

WFTV