LAPLACE — What started as an argument early Wednesday evening evolved into the discovery of a home-based meth lab in LaPlace and five arrests.

St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a residence in the 400 block of Birch Street following a disturbance report at 6:17 p.m. Wednesday.

When deputies arrived, they identified two female subjects and two male subjects.

“For the safety of the deputies, deputies conducted a cursory search of the residence for other individuals and discovered a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in the residence,” a release from the Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies notified narcotics detectives of their findings, and, during the investigation, learned Michelle Orgeron, 33, of Bonnie Street in LaPlace was involved in a verbal altercation with Jason Hicks, 36, of Birch Street.

“The altercation became physical, including Hicks’ physical assault on Orgeron’s two daughters, 11 years old and 8 years old,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “The parties involved in the altercation refused medical attention. Hicks fled the area before deputies arrived.”

Authorities said detectives identified Paul Crotwell Sr., 58, as the owner of the house, Hicks and Kristy Salazar, 34, renting a room from Crotwell and Orgeron and Michael Richardson, 39, visiting the residence.

Detectives executed a judicial court ordered search warrant of the residence, authorities said, and documented the presence of the clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Hicks’ and Salazar’s room.

Detectives called a specialized company to disassemble the laboratory safely because of the volatile nature of methamphetamine laboratories. Detectives seized paraphernalia used in the production and distribution of methamphetamine, three grams of marijuana and half a gram of methamphetamine.

Deputies arrested the following subjects and booked them accordingly:

• Michelle Lynn Orgeron, 33, 161 Bonnie St., LaPlace, creation or operation of a clandestine laboratory for the unlawful manufacture of CDS, disturbing the peace — engaging in a fistic encounter

• Kristy Lee Salazar, 34, 416 Birch St., LaPlace, possession of methamphetamine less than 28 grams, possession or distribution of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana — first offense, creation or operation of a clandestine laboratory for the unlawful manufacture of CDS

• Paul E. Rotwell Sr., 58, 416 Birch St., LaPlace, creation or operation of a clandestine laboratory for the unlawful manufacture of CDS

• Michael Jerome Richardson, 39, 382 Elm St., LaPlace, creation or operation of a clandestine laboratory for the unlawful manufacture of CDS

• Jason Eugene Hicks, 36, 409 Birch St., LaPlace, creation or operation of a clandestine laboratory for the unlawful manufacture of CDS, cruelty to juveniles with force or violence (2 cts.), possession or distribution of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana — first offense, simple battery (2 cts.), possession of methamphetamine less than 28 grams, disturbing the peace — engaging in a fistic encounter