Last Updated:March 26. 2008 8:40PM
Published: March 27. 2008 3:30AM

Nine children were removed Wednesday from a Colbert County residence after authorities made a welfare check at the home and discovered an active methamphetamine lab.

Colbert County Sheriff Ronnie May said no one involved with the lab was arrested at the time of the search, but a Winston County man wanted on a grand jury indictment was picked up and later officers found ice, which is a form of meth, inside his artificial leg.

Sheriff's deputies, Colbert County Drug Task Force and the Colbert County Department of Human Resources searched a residence in the 5000 block of Woodmont Drive, south of Colbert Heights High School. They found the meth lab, remains of another lab and the children, ranging from infant to 15. Three adults also were at the residence, officials said.

"We're going to be meeting with the district attorney (today) to discuss the situation and get warrants for the people involved with the lab," the sheriff said.

May said the children, who were from two families that were living in the house together, were removed by DHR officials.

The active meth lab was discovered in a tractor-trailer truck parked outside the residence. Law enforcement personnel had received information that meth also had been cooked inside the house a number of times.

A DEA-approved cleanup crew was called in to remove and dispose of the chemicals used in the manufacturing process.

The sheriff said that while deputies were at the residence, they saw Rayburn Nix, 58, of Haleyville, who was wanted on a grand jury indictment for possession of marijuana. He was spotted as he drove by the residence, authorities said.

"He drove by very slow and then drove off suspiciously," the sheriff said. "A deputy stopped him and officers found equipment and chemicals used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine. Then, after getting Nix back to the jail, deputies searched him and found the ice hidden inside his artificial leg."

May said Nix is being held in the Colbert County Jail on the grand jury indictment and may face more charges.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@timesdaily.com.