A Gorham man has been arrested for the second time in six months for allegedly operating methamphetamine labs, police say, and this time, a church was evacuated as a result.

Matthew Cole, 37, has been charged with unlawful operation of a methamphetamine laboratory and violating a conditional release, according to officials. Cole had been free on bail for drug, theft and firearm charges stemming from a May 5 arrest for which police say he had been operating a meth lab.

Gorham police on Sunday responded to the First Parish Congregational Church for a report about a man suspected of drug-dealing.

Police say they found Cole outside the church with “numerous backpacks, bags and other items,” according to a news release from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. Police say the items constituted two so-called “one pot methamphetamine laboratories” that were in the active stages of producing methamphetamine.

“Due to the extreme chance of explosion and or fire, the area was evacuated for safety, to include the occupied church,” the release stated. “Cole was subsequently arrested for possessing approximately 27 grams of methamphetamine.”

The MDEA’s Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team collected evidence that included lithium, Coleman fuels and other items used to manufacture crystal meth.

All toxic byproducts of the labs were turned over for destruction to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

Manufacturing methamphetamine can be a dangerous process that produces toxic gasses while also being a fire and explosion hazard.

Cole was transported to the Cumberland County Jail and was scheduled to appear in Portland Unified Court Monday at 1 p.m.

This isn’t the first time a church in Maine was impacted because of a meth lab. In 2019, a one-pot meth lab was found to be operating in the basement at Buxton United Methodist Church near a children’s play area.