County drug unit arrests four on meth charges
The Franklin County Drug Unit has been actively pursuing complaints of drug activity in the area and as a result four drug-related arrests have been made this week.
Christopher Lynn Faulkner, 42, 524 Bullard Dr., Red Bay, was arrested on charges of first-degree attempt to manufacture a controlled substance, second-degree attempt to manufacture a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
Ronald Jay Self, 33, 113 7th Ave. SW, Red Bay, was arrested on charges of second-degree attempt to manufacture a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
Jason Daryle Bates, 36, 326 Garrison Hollow Rd., Red Bay, was arrested for second-degree manufacture of a controlled substance.
Eric Keith Edwards, 26, 1360 Elgin Cochran Rd., Hamilton, was arrested for attempt to manufacture a controlled substance.
According to Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver, Faulkner, Self and Bates were all arrested on Tuesday on a related case involving the manufacturing of methamphetamine.
Oliver said the Franklin County Drug Unit responded to a call to assist officers with the Red Bay Police Department and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office who had discovered several people who had been purchasing chemicals with the alleged intent to manufacture meth.
During the course of the investigation, Oliver said patrol units performed a routine traffic stop on Garrison Hollow Road in Red Bay. Faulkner and Self were inside the vehicle and Oliver said officers also found methamphetamine, multiple chemicals used to manufacture meth and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle.
“After discovering the drugs and chemicals, the two suspects admitted they had been purchasing the chemicals to manufacture meth,” Oliver said. “During the course of the investigation, officers also ended up arresting Bates, who was caught purchasing more chemicals to allegedly aid Faulkner and Self.”
Oliver said the suspects led law enforcement officials to a grave road off Alabama 247 where the actual manufacturing had been taking place.
“The officers found various mixed chemical and hazardous material so the Russellville Fire and Hazmat Team was called in to assist with the safe removal of the materials,” Oliver said.
According to Oliver, Edwards’ arrest came two days later on Thursday following an investigation where Edwards had been implicated as a person who was purchasing chemicals with the intent to use them in the manufacturing of meth.
Oliver said during the investigation, law enforcement officials with Hackleburg Police Department and FCSO tracked Edwards purchasing chemicals in at least four different counties in Alabama within the past six months.
