Traffic Stop Leads Authorities to Morgan County Meth Lab

Huntsville, TN (2011-06-28) A Robbins man stopped for driving on suspended license has led local authorities to a major meth lab in Morgan County. Locally, the driver and a passenger in his truck have been charged with drug offenses.

Oscar Wayne Lowe, 35, of Robbins and a passenger in his Toyota pickup, identified as Jonathon Silcox, 31, of Pioneer, were arrested Tuesday morning following a traffic stop on Baker Highway near its intersection with Scott High Drive.

According to Drug Agent Kris Lewallen of the Scott County Sheriff’s Department, he pulled over Lowe’s pickup around 9:40 a.m. Tuesday morning on suspicion that Lowe was driving on a suspended license. As Agent Lewallen approached the vehicle, he allegedly observed a one-pot meth lab lying in the back of the truck. A subsequent search of the vehicle reportedly uncovered other precursor of the manufacture of methamphetamine, including an electric grinder with pseudoephedrine residue in it, a bag of Epson salt, tubing, approximately 1000 coffee filters, and several plastic baggies. Coffee filters, stated Lewallen, were also found in Lowe’s tackle box.

During the course of the investigation, Lowe reportedly gave local authorities consent to search his home, which was located just inside Morgan County. Armed with his consent, Scott County Sheriff Mike Cross and Morgan County Sheriff Glen Freytag went to Lowe’s home. Inside authorities allegedly found a large methamphetamine laboratory.

Locally, Lowe was charged with the manufacture of methamphetamine and driving on suspected license. Authorities reportedly recovered more than ½ gram of methamphetamine from Silcox, along with a needle on his person. Silcox was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Lowe likely will face additional charges in Morgan County, as the investigation into the lab at Lowe’s home was turned over the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department and the Tennessee Methamphetamine Drug Task Force.