Couple arrested on drug charges

Suspicious activity on local pseudoephedrine logs led to the arrest of a Phil Campbell couple on Monday.

Billy Joe Harper, 30, and Crystal Harper, 24, of 96 Franklin 175 in Phil Campbell, were arrested on charges of second-degree attempted manufacturing of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

According to Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver, when investigators were checking the pseudoephedrine logs in Franklin County and the surrounding counties, they noticed Both Billy Harper and Crystal Harper’s names showed several purchases.

Oliver said investigators had also recently received a report of the Harper’s young children walking a distance of nearly two miles unsupervised.

When investigators went to question the Harper’s at their home about the incidents, Oliver said they noticed both Billy and Crystal Harper were under the influence of a controlled substance while they had two of their four children in their care.

Drug paraphernalia was also found in the home.

All four children were placed with the Department of Human Resources.

Oliver said the investigation in this case is still on-going.

Both Billy and Crystal Harper were released on bonds of $4,500.