Sheriff arrests two Troy residents in meth-lab bust

Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 8, 2003

The Pike County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant Wednesday afternoon and turned up a meth lab allegedly being run by two Troy residents.

According to Sheriff Russell Thomas, Willie Paul McLendon, 23, and Kelli Grace McLendon, 20, were arrested at a residence south of Springhill on Highway 87. Both reside at Route 2, Box 218, in Troy and were charged with Manufacture of Methamphetamine - First Degree and second degree possession of marijuana.

A six-month old baby was present during the manufacture of the drugs, Thomas said, and was turned over to the Department of Human Resources after the raid.

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The seizure turned up a 1-quart jar of meth oil, four 20 ounce bottles of meth oil, finished products from the manufacture process and marijuana. In addition, the residence housed several chemicals used in the manufacture of the drugs, a set of scales, several microwave ovens and assorted heating elements used to cook the meth.

Deputies also recovered dozens of syringes and a marijuana plant.

The McLendons were both taken to Pike County Jail and bonds were set at $50,000 for the meth charges and at $1,000 for the marijuana.

The chemicals and other hazardous items were turned over to the hazardous materials unit from Mobile and will be disposed of at a hazardous materials location, Thomas said.

"We need to give credit to the numerous agencies involved in the execution of the search warrant," he said. "That includes members of the 12th Judicial Circuit, the Troy Police Department, the Coffee County Sheriff's Department and the Elba Police Department."

He also gave credit to the hard work and diligence of his own deputies and officers in conducting the raid and arresting the suspects.