Two meth labs discovered in county

Bedford County deputies made several arrests after discovering two methamphetamine labs on Monday, one with fumes so powerful that three officers required medical attention.

A report by Detective Sgt. David Sakich stated that he, Detective Todd Hammond and Special Agent Larry Campbell of the Moore County Sheriff's Department went to a Warners Bridge Road home in reference to a narcotics investigation.

When they arrived, the officer encountered Vernon Ray Pope, 39, and Robert Edward Schoenly II, 46, who allegedly said they were there to help the homeowner clean up the property.

At that time the homeowner, Michael Wayne Rowlett, 43, came out and Campbell told him that they were investigating him for methamphetamine manufacturing and the officers received consent to search the residence and outbuildings.

Rowlett took Campbell into the home and showed him where the precursors and chemicals for the meth lab were located and Bedford County Fire Department was called with its self-contained breathing equipment so the home could be thoroughly searched.

Sakich told the T-G that he, Shelbyville K-9 officer Tracey Nelson and BCSD reserve officer Monty Moore had to be checked out at Heritage Regional Medical Center after suffering from "serious migraines" due to the meth fumes.

Materials to make the drug were found throughout the residence, as well as outside, the officers said. During the investigation, the officers learned that Pope allegedly took Rowlett and Schoenly to Walmart, where Schoenly bought psuedoephedrine, the key ingredient for meth. Schoenly also admitted having the psuedoephedrine and throwing it under a van upon the officers' arrival. He also had a small bag of meth, the report read.

Bob Nettle of the Tennessee Meth Task Force later arrived and Haz-Mat crews responded and began cleanup. Sakich also thanked Chief Mark Thomas, Tracy Preston and Michael Smith of the BCSD for their help.

Pope was charged with promotion of meth manufacture and was released on $10,000 bond. Rowlett faces charges of initiation of a process resulting in meth, promotion of meth manufacture, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of schedule II drug (two counts) and is being held under $36,000 bond.

Schoenly faces charges of possession of schedule II drug, initiation of a process resulting in meth, and promotion of meth manufacture and is being held under $18,500 bond. All are scheduled to appear in General Sessions court on Nov. 25.

That wasn't the only meth lab discovered on Monday by sheriff's investigators. An anonymous call to investigators said they would find a meth lab in a garage on Frank Martin Road.

According to a report by Hammond, officers watched the residence and observed a van leaving the home. The vehicle crossed the center line and a traffic stop was conducted.

The driver was Timothy Carl Newsom, who told Hammond he was "going to town." Permission to search the van was granted and a small amount of a marijuana bud was found in the back seat. Both Newson and an unidentified male passenger said they were unaware of the pot.

Newsom told officers "that he didn't want any trouble" and would cooperate fully, so Hammond then asked who was at his home and if officers could have consent to search the residence, and Newsom signed a consent form and a waiver of rights.

Upon arriving at the home, Brandie Reed, 23, came to the door holding a pack of cigarettes. Upon looking inside the pack, officers discovered a small amount of marijuana and rolling papers.

A 12-gauge pump shotgun was found in a bedroom and upon searching the garage, numerous items used in the creation of meth were discovered.

Newsom was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and promotion of meth manufacture and was released under $15,000 bond while Reed was arrested for simple possession of schedule VI and possession of drug paraphernalia and was released on $3,500 bond. Both are scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on Nov. 25.

A third person at the home, Lasandra Teal, was arrested for an outstanding warrant and was transported to Marshall County.