Deputy Scott Artz was patrolling Old Highway 63 in the Speedwell community when he noticed what appeared to be a broken down vehicle and a female knocking on the door of the D and P Grocery, which was closed.
The officer pulled in to check on the vehicle and recognized the man behind the wheel was a wanted person in Claiborne County.
Deputy Artz checked warrants on the man and the Claiborne County Jail verified that Billy Lee Hatfield had an FTA and a Capias warrant on him.
Hatfield was placed under arrest.
Shortly after Hatfield was placed under arrest, Sheriff David Ray arrived to assist Deputy Artz. Martha Ann Kaylor, the female with Hatfield, stated to them that the vehicle was registered to her. Kaylor then gave both verbal and written consent to search the vehicle.
While searching the vehicle, a bottle of Coleman Fuel and a box of salt were located behind the driver’s seat. Kaylor then opened the trunk of the car and inside were several components used to manufacture methamphetamine.
Sgt. Robert Chadwell, Deputies Larry Martin and Josh Fields arrived to assist on the scene and Hatfield admitted to the officers that the clandestine methamphetamine lab was his.
As officers continued searching the vehicle, a second meth lab was located across the road from the store that is not connected to the meth lab found in the vehicle.
The Eighth Judicial Drug Task Force and Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force were called to the scene to assist the officers with the process and clean up of the area.
Kaylor was released after being interviewed by officers.
Hatfield was transported to the Claiborne County Jail where he is charged with Manufacturing Methamphetamine and two outstanding warrants, a Capias Bench warrant for Methamphetamine, Possession of Schedule II and an FTA for Driving on Revoked.
Hatfield will appear in court on July 1, 2010.
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