Four Franklin County residents were arrested on Sunday after a community tip led to the discovery of 30 meth labs, officials said.
Monica Leeann Young, 31, 146 Duncan Farm Rd., Russellville; was arrested for first-degree unlawful manufacturing a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, 20 counts of second-degree unlawful manufacturing a controlled substance and 10 counts of attempted second-degree manufacturing a controlled substance.
Jeffrey Shane Hargett, 35, 146 Duncan Farm Rd., Russellville, was arrested for first-degree unlawful manufacturing a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, 20 counts of second-degree unlawful manufacturing a controlled substance and six counts of attempted second-degree manufacturing a controlled substance.
Addie Michelle Oliver, 36, 458 Pace Lane, Spruce Pine, was arrested for first-degree unlawful manufacturing a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, 20 counts of second-degree unlawful manufacturing a controlled substance and six counts of attempted second-degree manufacturing a controlled substance.
John Grady Oliver, 34, 458 Pace Lane, Spruce Pine, was arrested for first-degree unlawful manufacturing a controlled substance unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and 20 counts of second-degree unlawful manufacturing a controlled substance.
According to Oliver, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a concerned citizen on Sunday evening who said he had found multiple meth labs in plastic soda bottles in a ditch on Franklin 36 near Rockwood Baptist Church.
Oliver said when sheriff’s deputies and investigators with the Franklin County Drug Unit arrived on the scene, they found garbage bags containing chemicals and multiple inactive meth labs.
“Even though the labs were inactive, they still had components of the meth left inside them and were very dangerous,” Oliver said.
While law enforcement was on the scene, Oliver said a person drove up who gave them a description of a vehicle that had allegedly been observed throwing the meth-related items out of their car.
“The deputies began searching for the vehicle based on the description they were given,” Oliver said.
“They came up on a vehicle matching the description but once they were in pursuit of the vehicle, the man inside jumped out of the car and tried to run.”
Oliver said deputies were able to catch the man, who was later identified as Hargett, and also took the woman, identified as Young, into custody.
“After those two were in custody, they went to their home on Duncan Farm Road where they found active meth labs along with paraphernalia and ingredients used to make meth,” Oliver said.
“Addie and John Oliver were also in the home at that time.”
Oliver said all four were arrested on the scene.
“This could have been a very dangerous situation, especially since many of the meth labs were found on a public road where anyone could have stumbled across them,” Oliver said.
“We appreciate the concerned citizens who reported these crimes and helped us get these drugs off the streets.”