Published: July 21, 2008 07:28 pm            

Cullman agents bust multiple meth labs

CULLMAN — By Patrick McCreless

PATRICKM@CULLMANTIMES.COM



The Cullman County Narcotics Enforcement Team had their hands full over the last few days with multiple but unrelated meth busts.

According to Cullman County Sheriff’s reports, the first bust occurred Wednesday after CNET agents received a complaint of someone manufacturing methamphetamine in the presence of a child at a residence on Warnke Road. After responding to the residence, agents allegedly discovered Amy Kay Gailey, 39 along with a meth lab and approximately 4 grams of meth. Also at the residence was a 13-year-old child.

“DHR (Department of Human Resources) was called to take the child,” said the director of CNET, who requested his name be withheld. “She did not require any medical attention.”

The director said a HAZMAT team was not needed to clean up the scene since the meth lab was no longer in use.

Gailey was charged with unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance in the first degree and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, but not with chemical endangerment of a child.

“We’re looking at maybe doing some additional charges later, we’ll take it to the grand jury,” the director said.

The narcotics team arrested two individuals during their second meth bust, which took place Friday at a residence in the Trimble Community. Unlike the earlier bust, agents did not visit the home to find a meth lab, but instead to serve a drug possession probation violation warrant.

The recipient of the warrant, Gary Lee Hardin, 34, was found at the residence along with Darlene Allred Campbell, 42, who was hiding inside the home. Once the two were taken into custody, agents allegedly observed chemicals consistent with the manufacturing of meth and found approximately 10 grams of the drug.

Like the first bust, a HAZMAT team was not required since the lab was no longer working. However, members of the Alabama Drug Enforcement Administration were called to the scene to remove the chemicals.

Hardin and Campbell were charged with unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance in the first degree, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

The narcotics team made their third meth bust Saturday after a routine traffic stop.

After a sheriff’s deputy pulled over Jonathan Craig Wilson, 33 of Cullman for a traffic violation on County Road 813, he noticed there were chemicals in his vehicle consistent with the manufacturing of meth.

“It was just the chemicals, it (lab) wasn’t put together,” the director said.

Once CNET agents arrived at the scene, they allegedly recovered approximately 4 grams of methamphetamine from Wilson’s vehicle as well as three shotguns. Wilson was charged with unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance in the first degree.

All suspects are incarcerated at the Cullman County Detention Center, each with a $1 million bond.

Unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance in the first degree is a Class A felony, punishable by up to life in prison.

        

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