Four arrested on meth production charges

Two Winston County men and a Marion County man and woman were taken into custody after authorities received information of meth being produced in a garage in Phil Campbell.

Investigators with the Franklin County Sheriff’s office said Timothy Keith Barnett, 42, 1281 Winston 196, Haleyville; Francis Ann Barnett, 41, 8765 Alabama 13, Bear Creek; Walter Daniel Rea, 46, 349 Mixon St. Hackleburg, and Phillip Melvin Galloway, 45, 471 Alabama 13 N., Haleyville, are all charged with first-degree unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance, trafficking methamphetamine and second-degree possession of marijuana.

Authorities said investigators received a call notifying them of a potential meth lab in production inside a garage at 623 Hagood St. in Phil Campbell.

Law enforcement officials from the Phil Campbell police department and sheriff’s office seized the building close to midnight Monday, officials said.

Authorities said Timothy Barnett, Francis Barnett, Rea and Galloway were found inside and arrested at the scene.

Investigators said inside the garage there were two ounces of liquid meth, two grams of finished crystallized meth, a 12-gage shotgun, two active meth labs and multiple uncontrolled substances.

Investigators said DEA was alerted and Hazmat was notified for clean up.

All four are currently being held in the Franklin County Jail pending bond.

Phil Campbell Police Chief Merrell Potter said it is always a victory when you get drug users off the streets.

“We are always happy to assist the sheriff’s department on any case,” he said.

“I’m always glad to see people who are dealing with drugs apprehended and taken off the streets no matter which law enforcement agency does it.”