2 found with meth within 1 week

These materials, which authorities say are the makings of a meth lab, were discovered during a traffic stop last Friday, leading to a variety of charges for the driver, Dustin Scott St. John.
(Bedford County Sheriff's Department photo)

Dustin Scott St. John, 24, of Lorien Circle, who was already on bond for charges of having a meth lab last year, was arrested after being discovered with the components of another lab.

He has been charged with DUI, possession of a schedule II drug, initiation of a process resulting in methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, violation of implied consent and violating the open container law.

St. John is being held without bond and is due in Bedford County General Session Court on April 7.

A report filed by Deputy Garcia Jordan and Det. Sgt. David Sakich said St. John was stopped March 5 for traveling in the wrong lane on Deery Street and squealing his tires "in a reckless manner."

Jordan said he could smell a strong odor of alcohol and a field sobriety test was conducted, which St. John allegedly failed.

St. John was placed under arrest and while checking the vehicle, Jordan reported he could see "open containers in plain view with several items hanging out of it which I believed to be items used to manufacture methamphetamine."

Jordan contacted Sakich about the traffic stop and the items found, and the detective confirmed that the materials were precursors used in the making of the deadly drug.

Pulling a backpack out of the back seat, Sakich found 39 packs of matches, containers of parts cleaners, muriatic acid, alcohol, lye, 20 feet of tubing, a roll of aluminum foil, a gallon of Coleman fuel, 200 coffee filters, iodine, a lighter torch, 21 Sudafed tablets, a marijuana pipe and two packs of rolling papers.

Sakich also said he discovered "pills soaking" in the trunk of the car.

Wendell Norton of the Meth Task Force and haz-mat were summoned by Sakich to deal with the toxic materials.

When St. John was transported to Bedford County Jail, Jordan discovered a small plastic bag with white residue in the back seat of the patrol car, which Sakich identified as meth.

The 1991 Cadillac Deville that St. John was driving, which he said belonged to his girlfriend, was also seized.

On Wednesday, sheriff officials made another arrest after information was received about someone buying the ingredients to make the addictive drug.

Kevin Allen Mallard, 27, of Ledgeview Drive has been charged with promotion of methamphetamine manufacture. He is currently being held at the county jail under $20,000.

Sakich's report on the arrest states that he received information that Mallard was allegedly buying lye from a local store on a regular basis, leading Sakich and Det. Todd Hammond to Mallard's residence.

After Mallard was advised of his rights, he told Sakich that he bought the lye to make meth, stating that he had cooked the drug several times in the back yard of where he was staying, which sheriff's officials said was his grandparents' home.

Mallard also allegedly gave Sakich two bottles of lye and one bottle of muriatic acid and was then placed into custody.

Sheriff's officials tell the T-G that Mallard has a prior meth related conviction in Franklin County and was on probation for the charge when he was arrested.

He is due in Bedford County General Sessions Court on March 31.