Couple charged in meth case

A Franklin County couple was taken into custody early Monday after authorities found a meth lab and drugs inside their residence.

Samuel Cleveland

Investigators with the Franklin County Sheriff’s office said Samuel Stewart Cleveland, 28, and Dawn Nickole Cleveland, 27, both of 1268 Railsplitter Road, Phil Campbell, are charged with first-degree manufacturing of a controlled substance, second-degree possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts each of endangering the welfare of a child.

Authorities said officers with the Haleyville Police Department opened a trash bag full of fumes located in the bed of an abandoned pickup truck on Aug. 17.

Investigators said mail inside the bag led law enforcement officials to issue a warrant for Samuel Cleveland and led officers to his residence.

Dawn Cleveland

Authorities said when Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies and the Haleyville Police Department arrived at the residence, they heard shuffling inside the home at 1268 Railsplitter Road.

Investigators said a search of the ground found a shake-and-bake type meth lab tossed out of a back bedroom window as authorities arrived.

Reports indicate traces of marijuana along with measuring scales were found inside the living room, evidence of several old labs were found to be burned in a barrel outside close to the residence and several more tools and chemicals used to produce methamphetamine were found in different locations inside the residence.

Investigators said two small children were present inside the residence when authorities arrived.

Authorities said Franklin County DHR was notified and have the children in their custody.

Samuel Cleveland also faces drug charges in Winston County for items found in his abandoned truck.

The couple is being held at the Franklin County Jail.