Local News
Cullman sheriff’s deputies discover working meth lab
By Patrick McCreless
staff writer
Complaints of an offensive smell in the New Home community led Cullman County Sheriff’s deputies to the discovery of a working meth lab Monday.
Deputies arrested Ricky Bryan, 55 of New Home and Daniel James Newman, 27, of Crossville at the scene on County Road 1725 and charged them with unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance in the first degree.
According to sheriff’s reports, deputies began patrolling New Home Monday after several local residents complained to the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office of smelling strong chemical odors in the area. Chief Deputy Tony Quick said the patrol deputies allegedly tracked the smell to a trailer owned by Ricky Bryan. Both Bryan and Newman were at the residence when deputies arrived.
“The deputies confronted the subjects about the odor and determined they were in the process of cooking methamphetamine,” Quick said.
Cullman Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET) agents were called to the scene, at which point they allegedly discovered chemicals used in the manufacturing of meth. Quick said the agents also allegedly found evidence that the meth lab had been used several times.
“Two grams of finished product was collected,” Quick said.
The Cullman HAZMAT team was then called to the scene to decontaminate the patrol deputies and the two suspects. Members of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) were also called in to confiscate the chemicals.
Quick said he appreciated the hard work of the deputies.
“I commend the deputies in their thoroughness and following up in determining the presence of a lab,” he said. “And it was a job well done by all the agencies involved.”
Bryan and Newman 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.
‰ Contact Patrick McCreless by e-mail at patrickm@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270
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