TALLADEGA — The Talladega County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force made five major arrests Monday after responding to calls from local agencies, according to Commander Jason Murray.

The first four arrests were made at 509 Heath Street in Talladega after Talladega Police responded to a call from a neighbor who suspected they might be manufacturing methamphetamine there.

Officers responded, found what appeared to be parts of a meth lab, and called the Task Force.

“The agent got the consent of the owner, Cecilia Freeman, to search, and they found components of a meth lab,” Murray said. There were also a total of four children between the ages of 2 years old and 4 years old inside the residence.

Cecilia Maria Freeman, 21 and Shawn Matthew Hodges, 23, both said they lived at the house where the lab was found, Murray said. The other two suspects, Tabitha Nicole Hodges, 21, and Justin Delane Haynes, 23, both live at 106 Marshall Street, Lot 27.

All four were charged with unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance in the second degree, and were given $50,000 bonds by District Court Judge Jeb Fannin.

The Talladega County Department of Human Resources was called in to take custody of the four children, who were later placed with family members.

Murray added that this particular case remains under investigation and that more serious charges, including manufacturing a controlled substance in the first degree, were still possible.

The other arrest was in the Sadie Lee Court housing project in Childersburg. Murray said Childersburg patrol officers responded to a shots fired call there and saw several individuals standing around. One of them broke and ran.

When the runner, Christopher Garrett, was apprehended, he had 14 ounces of crack cocaine in at least 14 individual baggie corners.

Garrett is 48 years old and gave an address of 29 Rose Circle in Childersburg.

He was charged with trafficking in cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Trafficking in cocaine and manufacture of a controlled substance in the first degree are class A felonies in Alabama, punishable upon conviction by 10 to 99 years or life in prison. Manufacture of a controlled substance in the second degree is a class B, punishable upon conviction by two to 20 years in prison.

Possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct are all misdemeanors.

Contact Chris Norwood at cnorwood@dailyhome.com