Police: Meth operation found in motel room

RUSSELLVILLE - An investigation into a possible intoxicated person led authorities to discover a methamphetamine manufacturing operation in a motel room, authorities said.

Russellville police said a deputy with the Franklin County sheriff's department saw a man walking in a parking lot who appeared to be intoxicated.

"When the deputy stopped to talk with the individual, the man ended up walking with the deputy to a motel room, and when he opened the door, the deputy saw the meth labs in plain sight," Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett said.

Hargett said Russellville police was called and a husband and wife were arrested.

Michael Davie Timms Jr., 30, 2095, Underwood Road, Russellville, and his wife, 23-year-old Jessica Rena Timms, were charged with first-degree manufacturing a controlled substance.

Authorities said inside the room at the Budget Inn was evidence of numerous meth cooks taking place.

"There had been anywhere between seven to 11 meth cooks there inside the room," said Russellville police investigator Lt. Scotty Lowery.

Lowery said all of the labs found in the room were the one pot "shake and bake" type labs.

"None of the ones found were active, but it was evident by all of the chemicals and other items we discovered that there had been several cooks going on," Lowery said.

He said 11 different containers were discovered that had some type of residue or chemical used in the manufacturing process.

Lowery said the chemicals and other ingredients used in the manufacturing of meth were scattered in the room - "in the bathroom and even in the dresser drawers."

"We found two garbage bags in a dumpster behind the motel that contained the residue from cooks that had been done before we discovered what was going on," Lowery said.

During a search of the room, authorities found a small amount of finished meth.

"This just shows that they'll make it anywhere they can," Hargett said.

"I'm just glad we were able to discover this operation and put it out of

business."

Police officials said this is the second meth manufacturing operation discovered within the city in the past month.

A Drug Enforcement Agency certified clean-up crew from Birmingham was called in to dispose of the chemicals and other items discovered.

The Timms are in the Franklin County Jail.

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