A Nesquehoning man was arraigned Thursday afternoon on charges he operated a methamphetamine laboratory in his residence.

Eric Joseph Willing, 34, of 132 E. Railroad St., was taken into custody after police raided his home Thursday morning.

He was arraigned before District Judge Casimir T. Kosciolek of Lansford and lodged in the Carbon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $200,000 straight bail.

Willing appeared before Judge Kosciolek wearing a white gown and white covering over his feet.

He had been decontaminated after the raid by the Carbon County Emergency Management Agency.

A hearing was tentatively set before Kosciolek at 1 p.m. next Wednesday, June 4.

The raid was headed by borough police who were assisted by state police, as well as police from Lansford.

Chief of Police Sean Smith of Nesquehoning is in charge of the investigation. Smith and Agent Charles Horvath of the Pa. Attorney General’s office are the arresting officers.

Smith said this was considered a large lab.

EMA Director Mark Nalesnik said he and the Nesquehoning Fire Department were summoned to the scene to handle the hazmat situation.

The breakdown of the suspected lab occurred by about a half dozen members of the Pa. State Police Special Operations Team. The state police squad used protective gear, including masks, to enter the single dwelling.

Willing lives in the home alone.

Nesquehoning police began the preparations for the raid at about 7 a.m. today and conducted the entry into the home before noon.