By By Robbie Byrd, News Editor
Three have been arrested following an unanticipated meth lab bust on Atmosphere Road last Friday.
Gary Dewayne Heathcock, 26, of 3797 Atmosphere Road, Samantha Maldin, 30, of 3797 Atmosphere Road, and Jay Kenny Milstead, 22, of Atmore, were arrested on charges of unlawful possession of marijuana, second degree, unlawful possession of controlled sustances (methamphetamines), unlawful possession of anhydrous ammonia, and unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance (methamphetamines).
Heathcock is also charged with cruelty to animals, first degree, and four counts of cruelty to animals, second degree.
The bust occurred after deputies with the Escambia County Sheriff's office were attempting to serve an arrest warrant at 3797 Atmosphere drive.
When deputies arrived on scene, they spotted an Milstead in a work shed in the back yard of the residence.
Deputies also indentifed a strong smell of chemicals that are consistent with teh chemicals used in the manufacturing of crystal methamphetamines.
Deputies contacted agents with the 21st Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force who responded to the scene.
Agents with the drug task force confirmed that the substances were crystal methamphetamines and that there was a methamphetamine lab in the shed.
Ferguson Harbour, a hazardous waste clean-up crew from Pearl, Miss., was called to the residence to take custody of the lab. Technicians from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences were also called to take samples of the chemicals.
The 21st Judicial Drug Task Force is comprised of the following law enforcement agencies: Escambia County Sheriff's Department, Atmore Police Department, East Brewton Police Department, Brewton Police Department, Flomaton Police Department, Escambia County District Attorney's Office and the Escambia County Commission.
The task force receives 75 percent of its funding from a grant funded by the Bureau of Justice Affairs Division of the US Department of Justice and which is administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. The remained of the funding is provided by the Sheriff's Department, APD, BPD and the Escambia County DA's office.