Lepanto residents arrested for meth lab

Four Lepanto residents were arrested Sunday, June 4 when officers raided a shop building located at 31661 North Road in Marked Tree.

Arrested were Gregory Rodgers, 34, of 321 Broad Street; Nicholas McCullar, 22, of an unknown residence; Tiffany Tyler, 19, of 602 Joyce Street; and Annah D. Tucker, 19, of 3411 Ash Street.

At approximately 11:45 p.m. Saturday, June 13, Poinsett County Deputy Sheriff, Bobby New responded to a call of a meth lab at the shop building in question. While in route, New called Ricky Teague, the property owner who had discovered the lab. Teague gave the officer information about the suspects as well as their vehicle.

New then radioed the information to Lepanto dispatch so they could be on the look-out if the vehicle was spotted. In the meantime, New met Teague at the building, which is used seasonally for meat processing, and found a working meth lab set up. Upon finding the lab, New called for additional assistance from Deputy Jeff Stewart and Detective Ron Martin.

About this time, Lepanto police apprehended the suspects who were riding together in one car, holding them for questioning by New. Following the arrival of Stewart and Martin at the meth lab, New went to Lepanto to confront the suspects.

Martin also came to Lepanto to help with the questioning, arriving shortly after New. According to New's report of the incident, McCullar and his girlfriend Annah Tucker began cursing the officers as well as Lepanto Police Chief Larry Williams who was in attendance.

"Mr. McCullar made statements that he was 'going to take (us) out,'" said New in his report.

Finally, New and the other officers were able to get the statements of the suspects and all were charged with various crimes.

Tyler and Tucker were both charged with conspiracy to manufacture meth with Tucker additionally charged with two counts of disorderly conduct. Rogers was also charged with conspiracy to manufacture meth along with commercial burglary and possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to manufacture.

McCullar was charged with the most counts including auto theft, commercial burglary, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to manufacture, tampering with evidence, three counts of disorderly conduct, manufacturing meth and four counts of terroristic threatening if police.

The Drug task force was called in following investigation to clean up the lab. The value of the confiscated drugs was unknown until the report returns from the state crime lab.

The four suspects were being held for July 30 arraignment.