Five arrested in drug scheme at pharmacies
By Staff
Melissa Cason
A tip from local pharmacists lead to the arrest of five people who were buying ingredients to make methamphetamine.
Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett said a pharmacist informed an investigator that individuals had been going from pharmacy to pharmacy purchasing elements to make meth.
"Our investigator was at the pharmacy working on a forgery case when he was approached by the pharmacist," Hargett said.
Investigators followed the suspects to another retail store where he witnessed them purchasing the same items purchased at the other pharmacy.
"At this point, we instigated a traffic stop where the elements and drugs were found in the vehicle," Hargett said.
During the traffic stop, investigators realized the subjects in the first vehicle had other accomplices.
Five people were taken into custody Wednesday afternoon. Hargett said Joshua Lee Chaney, 26, of County Road 159 in Lexington, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and second-degree manufacturing of a controlled substance; Edward Wayne Townsend, 43, of 263 Highway 43 in Phil Campbell and Kenneth Lee Moore, 44, of Moore Lane in Phil Campbell were charged with second-degree distributing a controlled substance; Vickie Lynne Rolenberry, 42, of Highway 172 in Hackleburg, was charged with second-degree attempting to manufacture a controlled substance and Jessica Annette McLemore, 18, of Nix Road in Phil Campbell, was charged with second-degree attempting to manufacture a controlled substance.
Hargett said the arrests lead to a meth lab found by investigators with the Franklin County Sheriff's Department.
Franklin County Sheriff Larry Plott said two labs were found at Townsend's residence at 263 Highway 43 South in Phil Campbell.
"We found the after-effects of a lab in the garbage and another one near the back waiting to be disposed," Plott said.
Plott said in addition to Russellville's charges, Townsend and Moore also face first and second-degree manufacturing charges from his department.
Chaney faces second-degree manufacturing charges and Rolenberry was also charged with first-degree manufacturing in addition to the city's charges.
Plott said McLemore was released from the Franklin County Detention Center on a $4,000 bond while Rolenberry, Moore Chaney and Townsend remain the Detention Center pending a bond hearing.
