Call Now!

A hazmat team assisted twice in recent days as officers with the drug task force and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office cleaned up two different methamphetamine labs. The meth labs were part of several investigations late last week that netted eight arrests.

Arrested Oct. 7 at 1573 Manning Road in the Huxford community were Timothy Scott Sims, 41; William Allen Hall, 33; and Erica Lynn White, 25. Hall is a resident at the address.

Escambia County Chief Deputy Mike Lambert said officers with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office went to the Manning Road home on a warrant for Sims.

“When the officers arrived at the home contact was made with Sims,” Lambert said. “Sims and two other people were in the home at the time. As officers took Sims into custody, they noticed needles/syringes in the room. As Sims was searched officers found two bags of what they believed to be crystal meth.”

Lambert said Sims is on federal probation and had served time in federal custody on two other occasions.

“Hall gave us consent to search the home at the time of the arrests,” Lambert said. “The search resulted in officers finding pills and other syringes in the home. Two firearms and ammunition were also found at the residence.”

Lambert said the three suspects were taken into custody without incident.

Sims is charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine; unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia; third-degree domestic violence – menacing; and third-degree domestic violence – reckless endangerment.

Hall is charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine; and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

White is charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine; and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

As a result of the Manning Road investigation, officers were lead to a residence at 188 Homewood Lane in Huxford.

Arrested at the Homewood Lane location was James Thomas Smith, 41, of 211 14th Ave., Atmore.

“Our officers and agents from the Task Force responded to that scene,” Lambert said. “When they arrived, contact was made with Smith in the yard of the home. He went inside and came back out to surrender a substance believed to be crystal methamphetamine to the officers. He was taken into custody without incident.”

Smith consented to a search of the home, Lambert said.

“During the search of the home, officers discovered what is believed to be the remnants of a meth lab,” Lambert said. “There were precursor chemicals in the area as well.”

Lambert said DEA officials responded from Mobile and a hazardous materials crew was requested from Birmingham.

“The hazmat team came from Birmingham to clean up the suspected lab and chemicals,” Lambert said. “The cleanup took several hours to complete.”

Smith was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Lambert said an investigation is continuing in the case and other charges may be pending.

In an Oct. 8 incident, three people were arrested at 2404 Ross Road in Huxford, when the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a drug-hot line reporting a subject at was contemplating suicide, Lambert said.

Arrested were Gregory Adam Hadley, 27, 2881 Hwy. 21; Keisha Angeleta Hadley, 28, 2404 Ross Road; and Edward Harrison, 39, 1155 Jack Springs Road.

“We responded to the last known address of the person in question regarding the possible suicide,” Lambert said.

Lambert said officers with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office were accompanied by officers with the Poarch Police Department to conduct a welfare check at the address in regard to the possible suicide at the address.

“When our officers arrived at the scene and knocked on the door, they could hear people running inside the home,” Lambert said. “When officers asked an individual at the home if the person of interest was there, they replied that he was not there.”

Lambert said officers asked to search the home to make sure everything was secure.

“Our officers entered the home to find another adult and three children in the home,” Lambert said. “As officers continued through the home, they discovered items that appeared to be consistent with a meth lab.”

Officers entered the rear area of the home and found another adult and a 16-year-old in the house, Lambert said.

“When the officers discovered the items believed to be connected with the manufacturing of meth, everyone was removed from the home and detained,” Lambert said. “The Department of Human Resources was contacted to take custody of the children. They were later released to relatives.”

Gregory Hadley, Keisha Angeleta Hadley and Harrison were all charged with unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a controlled substance-prescription medications; unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia; and endangering the welfare of a child.

Lambert said the unlawful manufacturing charge is a class A felony charge and is enhanced due to children being present in the home.

Lambert said DEA officials were called to the scene as well as a clean up crew from Birmingham. The case remains under investigation.

An eighth arrest was made Oct. 9 at a license checkpoint situated at Poarch and Bell Creek Roads.

Lambert said Escambia County Sheriff’s officers and agents with the Drug Task Force were on hand during the checkpoint.

Arrested at the location was Richey Oneal Tedder, 22, 10194 Jack Springs Road.

“As our officers were conducted the license checks, Tedder approached the checkpoint and was asked for his license,” Lambert said. “He responded to officers that he didn’t have it and our officers noticed his hands and body began to tremble and his voice began to change.”

Lambert said officers asked Tedder to get out of the car when they noticed his reaction during the stop.

“When he stood up from the vehicle, a pipe fell from his lap and hit the ground according to our officers,” Lambert said. “At that point, Tedder dropped his head and admitted that he had illegal drug paraphernalia.”

As Tedder was taken into custody, Lambert said officers noticed an item in the floor of the vehicle.

“Officers noticed a substance in clear wrapping laying on the floorboard of the car,” Lambert said. “When the officers asked if it was illegal drugs, he admitted that it was.”

Tedder was taken into custody without incident. The suspect is currently under the supervision of Escambia County’s Community Corrections division on previous drug charges. The division has been notified and are conducted an investigation into the situation, Lambert said. The case remains under investigation.

Due to the Columbus Day holiday, court was not in session and no bond hearings were held for those arrested.

Bonds were to be set Tuesday, however, no information was available as of press time.