Meth lab found, 6 arrested

Published 12:05 am Friday, May 20, 2011

Drug Task Force agents arrested six people after a meth lab was found Wednesday just off Harmony Church Road.

DTF commander Mark Odom said agents discovered the lab following a routine traffic stop when the vehicle’s occupant, who was unidentified, told agents about the suspected lab.

“Agent Greg Jackson also learned that Wade Lee Goodson was at the residence where the drugs were being manufactured,” Odom said. “Goodson was wanted on several outstanding failure to appear warrants, so armed with that information, agents went to the residence, which was located just north of Airport Road off of Harmony Church Road.”

Odom said when agents arrived, a man – later identified as Walter C. Maulding – looked out the window then fled at the sight of the officers.

“Agents could hear movement inside the trailer and feared someone may have been destroying evidence,” he said. “So due to the circumstances, agents made entry into the home and were greeted by the smell associated with the manufacturing of methamphetamine.”

Odom said agents then arrested the trailer’s occupants – Sherry Bush Padgett, 50, of Andalusia; Stephanie Marie Henry, 26, and Walter C. Maulding, 37, both of Geneva County.

Odom said agents then learned that Goodson and another man, later identified as Douglas Wayne Nelson, had left the residence just prior to the agents’ arrival and were set to return soon.

A short time later, Covington County Sheriff Sgt. Kevin Wise and Jackson made contact with the pair as they started to turn in the driveway of the home.

“When Nelson and Goodson saw the officers, they tried to flee in their vehicle,” Odom said. “Both Sgt. Wise and Agent Jackson had to force Nelson, the driver, off the road. Goodson then fled on foot into a wooded area. Sgt. Wise was able to catch him on foot and take him into custody. Nelson was taken into custody a short distance from the truck after also attempting to flee.”

Another man, 30-year-old Christopher Lamont of Andalusia, was also arrested after he attempted to enter the home’s driveway; however, Odom said when Lamont noticed the police at the home, he sped away, traveling east on Harmony Church Road.

“When Sgt. Wise attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle, he noticed the driver throw something out the window,” Odom said. “Once the driver stopped, it was discovered that it was liquid methadone and that he did not have a prescription.”

Lamont was taken into custody and charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with physical evidence. He was booked into the county jail and held on a $16,000 bond.

A search of the home revealed 1,000 grams of methamphetamine oil, psuedoephedrine, lighter fluid, a firearm, spoons containing paraphernalia and “loaded” syringes believed to contain methamphetamine, Odom said.

Goodson and Nelson were charged with first-degree manufacturing controlled substance, trafficking, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest and held on $550,000 bond. Goodson was also charged with nine counts of failure to appear.

Padgett and Maulding were charged with first-degree manufacturing controlled substance, trafficking and possession of drug paraphernalia and held on $525,000 bond.

Henry was charged with first-degree manufacturing controlled substance, trafficking and possession of drug paraphernalia and held on $325,000 bond.