Man accused of kidnapping woman
RED BAY – A Red Bay man was arrested on Tuesday after law enforcement officers discovered an active meth lab in his home along with a woman who claimed she had been held there against her will for four days.
Jamie Milam, 36, 1110 Meadow Lane, Red Bay, was charged with first-degree kidnapping, first-degree manufacture of a controlled substance, trafficking methamphetamine, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, and a probation violation, Red Bay Police Chief Janna Jackson said.
According to Jackson, officers had received a warrant on Milam for a probation violation and planned to execute the warrant on Tuesday.
Jackson said the Franklin County Special Response Team was also called in to assist with the warrant execution because of suspected drug activity at Milam’s residence.
“We had received some information that [Milam] had been manufacturing methamphetamine at his trailer,” Jackson said.
“We knew it was possible that we could find an active meth lab, so the SRT was called in because of their specialized training.”
Jackson said when officers arrived at the residence, Milam was in the process of cooking meth so everyone was removed from the scene.
“We removed Mr. Milam and a female from the residence and cleared the scene because the active meth lab was at a very volatile stage where it could have easily exploded,” Jackson said.
“We immediately contacted the Franklin County lab technicians who responded to the scene to take care of the meth lab.”
Jackson said while Milam and the 45-year-old Marion County woman were being questioned, the woman told officers she had actually been held in the residence for four days at gunpoint.
“Apparently the woman came with Milam to his residence voluntarily on Friday,” Jackson said.
“However, the woman stated that when she got there, Milam started making meth and when she asked to leave, he put a shotgun to her head and forced her to stay in the home with him for four days.”
Jackson said the woman was not injured.
She said after Milam was questioned, he was transported to the Franklin County Jail.
“I’m very glad that [Milam] was apprehended without incident and that there were no injuries during this arrest,” Jackson said.
“The meth lab alone was a very dangerous situation and I’m glad we were able to find it in time because of the danger it presented to the surrounding neighborhood.
“I’m also thankful for the resources we have here in the county with the Special Response Team and the lab techs who were able to assist on this case.”
Milam is currently in custody at the Franklin County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
