SYLACAUGA — A routine domestic violence call Saturday night left a Sylacauga couple charged with the unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Talladega County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force Commander Jason Murray.Dean Johnson, 29, and Tina Crane, 32, both of 201 South Davis St., Sylacauga, had initial court appearances before District Judge George Sims, who set total bonds of $51,000 each for the couple.
According to Murray, Sylacauga police responded to a domestic violence call at the Davis Street residence Saturday evening. Crane had already gone to the Police Department to file a report, but Johnson was home. The Sylacauga officers found drug paraphernalia in the house in plain sight and arrested him for that before notifying the task force. The house was secured and a search warrant was obtained. Crane returned shortly afterward.
In a storage building behind the main house, task force officers discovered a clandestine methamphetamine lab that Murray estimates has been in use for quite some time.
“It was a pretty large operation, although we recovered only a small quantity of dope at the scene,” Murray said. “It looked like they had been cooking there for some time, based on the quantity of used and partly used chemicals we found there. He had 20 HCL generators, which are used to make hydrochloric gas, which is used in the last phase of cooking for turning the liquid into powder. We also found 25 pounds of dry ice, which is used to make anhydrous ammonia,” another key meth ingredient.
Murray said the evidence appeared to be that Johnson was just beginning a new batch when the lab was raided.
Murray said he got his first call to the scene Saturday about 8:30 p.m., and task force officers and a hazardous materials crew (One Stop Environmental of Birmingham, a private company that contracts with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration) remained on the scene until about 9 a.m. Saturday.
“It was just more than we could handle all on our own, so we called them in to help get everything sent off,” Murray said.
“It’s a really nice neighborhood where they had this set up, too,” Murray added. “They had a corner lot on Davis and Walnut, and then right across Walnut you’ve got the hospital.”
Unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance in the first degree is a Class A felony in Alabama, punishable upon conviction by 10 to 99 years or life in prison.
Unlawful possession of a controlled substance is a Class C felony, punishable upon conviction by one year and one day to 10 years in prison. Possession of drug paraphernalia is a misdemeanor.
