Published: July 07, 2008 06:26 pm         

Three face charges in two meth lab incidents

Cumberland County Sheriff's Department in the past several days arrested three persons in connection with the seizure of suspected methamphetamine labs — one said to have been found in a residence and the other in a vehicle. One of the suspects is believed to be the first person charged in Cumberland County with violating a quarantine order where a meth lab had been found.

Daniel Shawn Moore, 26, 1000 Crossville Hwy., Sparta, is charged with one count of possession of methamphetamine for resale and was placed under $50,000 bond. He was to have appeared in Cumberland County General Sessions Court yesterday.

In a separate incident, Jamie Louise McCullough, 34, 386 Moonlight Trail, Sparta, is charged with possession of methamphetamine for resale, simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was placed under $78,750 bond and was to appear in General Sessions Court yesterday.

Ronnie Joe Stokes Jr., 40, 317 Melissa Dr., was charged with violation of an order of quarantine on property.

In the first incident, deputies armed with a search warrant raided a residence on Lynch Rd. on June 25 shortly after midnight and discovered a clandestine methamphetamine lab which included four quart jars containing pseudoephedrine in liquid form. Also found were digital scales and items normally associated with a clandestine lab.

On June 27, Moore was arrested in connection with the incident. According to Sgt. Greg England's report, Moore was identified as the man exiting a bedroom window when deputies arrived at the Lynch Rd. location.

That same day Investigator Casey Cox notified Deputy Billy Simpson that he received information that a man was at the residence that had just been raided despite a quarantine of property notice being posted. Simpson arrested Stokes after observing him exit the rear door of the house.

In the second incident, K-9 Officer Kevin Phillips conducted a traffic stop June 26 around 9:30 p.m. of a 1992 Honda Accord on Hwy. 70 N after observing the vehicle cross the center line while traveling up a hill. The deputy wrote in his report that when he approached the vehicle to talk to the driver he observed in the vehicle coffee filters and paper towels in the floorboard of the vehicle.

He asked for permission to search the vehicle and was denied. He then deployed his drug detection dog who alerted as to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.

The resulting search revealed pseudoephedrine pills, a digital scale, finger scales, metal spoons containing residue, 180 small plastic bags, red phosphorus and other items.

She was placed under arrest after a field test was administered on some of the items seized.