LAPLACE — A local man is facing charges he created and operated a meth lab in LaPlace.

David Gardner, 46, was arrested at his home Thursday on Golfview Drive following a month-long narcotics investigation, Sheriff Mike Tregre said.

St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives began their investigation after receiving information Gardner was manufacturing methamphetamine at his residence.

While conducting surveillance Thursday afternoon, Tregre said detectives saw and arrested Gardner on an unrelated outstanding warrant for cyber stalking and criminal trespassing.

“As detectives affected the arrest, they observed precursors used in the manufacture of methamphetamine in the back of Gardner’s pickup truck,” Tregre said in a release. “With this new information and information gathered during the month-long investigation, detectives sought and obtained a judicial court approved search warrant for Gardner’s residence.”

Authorities reported discovering a small amount of crystal methamphetamine, evidence of methamphetamine cooks and drug paraphernalia used in the manufacture and sale of methamphetamine.

Gardner was booked with creation or operation of a clandestine laboratory for the unlawful manufacture of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, cyber stalking and criminal trespassing.

He remains in custody in lieu of a $76,500 bond.

Gardner has been arrested 22 times in St. John the Baptist Parish since September 1986, authorities said.