Stimulus money paving streets
By By Staff Reports, Hartselle Enquirer
A suspicious purchase led deputies with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department to the discovery of a one-pot methamphetamine lab in Hartselle and several arrests.
The discovery came on the heels of a call to Hartselle Police Department from Wal-Mart about the purchase of cold packs, commonly used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine, and a bag of new syringes. The items had been purchased and then taken to the car of James Derrick Allen. He consented to a search of the vehicle and HPD found methamphetamine in the car.
Three other people at the scene, Dustin Wayne Hill, Joshua Samuel Burnett and Janet Charlene Lieb were also questioned. Police discovered Hill and Lieb had outstanding warrants and Lieb allegedly provided false information for a period of time. Burnett was allowed to leave the scene.
The Morgan County Drug Task Force was notified and, in the course of their investigation, agents developed information that methamphetamine was being manufactured at 3401 Highway 31 South, Hartselle, where Hill’s grandfather was allowing the suspects to stay.
As officers arrived at the residence, they observed Burnett wearing chemical gloves and burning elements of the lab and he was taken into custody. A consensual search of the property revealed a one-pot methamphetamine lab operation.
Agents found remnants of a “shake and bake” meth lab, a quantity of methamphetamine extracted from a bi-phase liquid along with several precursor chemicals and other ingredients associated with the production of methamphetamine. The various elements of the labs were spread throughout the property, from the garage to a barn in the rear pasture. Agents also located a quantity of finished methamphetamine along with drug paraphernalia.
Arrested at the scene were Hill, 26, of 3401 Highway 31 South in Hartselle, James Derrick Allen, 22, of 200 Thompson Street in Hartselle and Burnett, 33, of 3401 Highway 31 South in Hartselle.
Hill is charged with unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance in the first degree and is being held on $300,000 bond. Allen is charged with unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance in the first degree and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and is being held on $305,000 bond. Burnett is being held on $100,000 bond on charges of unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance in the first degree. Lieb, 44, of 9085 Highway 36 West in Danville, is also charged with providing false information.
Children removed from meth home
By Staff Reports, Hartselle Enquirer
Three children were removed from a Hartselle home last week after a methamphetamine lab was found in a Nanceford Road residence.
Agents with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Narcotics and Violence Crimes Task Force responded to a home on 2271 Nanceford Road after neighbors complained about a possible meth lab at the home of James Daniel Tillman, 34.
Agents at the home noticed a strong chemical odor coming from a shed at the home and deputies said Tillman admitted there was an active lab in the shed and a nearby utility trailer.
Several “shake and bake” style labs were found in the area, along with meth in the process of manufacturing.
Three children ages 7, 13, and 15 were at the home. They were removed from the home by the Department of Human Resources and were taken to Decatur General Hospital for testing.
Tillman is charged with unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance in the first degree. Bond had not been set at presstime.
