By Staff
Melissa Cason
Franklin County Times
Investigators with the Franklin County Sheriff's Department took three individuals into custody Friday after finding evidence of a methamphetamine lab at their residence.
Leslie Cameron, 28, of 414 Highway 43 in Phil Campbell, Erika Cameron, 27, of 414 Highway 43 in Phil Campbell and Josh Scott, 25, of 2384 Highway 75 in Phil Campbell, were arrested and charged with first-degree manufacturing of a controlled substance after investigators found a lab where meth had been recently cooked.
"Investigators were following up on reports that meth was being made at the residence," Franklin County Sheriff Larry Plott said.
Plott added the subjects consented to the search and officers found strong evidence of a meth lab, including hydrochloric gas generators, two liters of product that had been cooked down where the meth had been removed and lithium strips.
Plott said children also lived at the residence and that the Department of Human Resources was called to assist with the investigation.
According to the Alabama Criminal Code, first-degree manufacturing a controlled substance is a Class a felony, which is punishable by 10 years to life in prison upon conviction.
"This is about the fifth lab we've found in the last 60 days," Plott said. "That just shows that the department is following up on every tip and lead we get."
Plott said that Leslie Cameron and Scott were both on probation for previous offenses.
All three subjects are being held in the Franklin County Jail pending bond hearing.
The Drug Enforcement Agency assisted with the investigation by providing a HAZMAT team from Birmingham.