The Shelby County Drug Task Force busted two methamphetamine labs in south Shelby County last week, resulting in the arrest of three individuals.

One lab was located on 511 Ferry Road in Columbiana – near Shelby County High School.

The second was located near Lay Lake.

Arrested were 48-year-old Charles and 41-year-old Donna Coley of 511 Ferry Road in Columbiana and 33-year-old Christopher Robinson of 29 Hickory Hill Lane of Shelby. Charles and Donna are married.

Donna Coley and Robinson, who are sister and brother, were charged with felony unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, along with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Charles Coley was only charged with unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance.

While the Ferry Road location is only a few hundred feet from the high school, it is unlikely the three individuals will face additional charges regarding proximity to a school. Additional charges can be placed if the lab is located within 500 feet of a school, according to state law.

Capt. Ken Burchfield of the Drug Task Force said the three individuals were not cooking meth when arrested but had cooked meth before.

&uot;There was some actually meth&uot; at both homes, he said.

&uot;I think this is the first meth lab found in Columbiana,&uot; city police chief Johnny Brown said. &uot;The task force gets all the credit.&uot;

According to Brown, the task force acted from an anonymous tip.

&uot;It takes a joint effort from the community and law enforcement to control it,&uot; Brown said.

Meth, which is often referred to as the poor man’s cocaine, is an amphetamine that stimulates the central nervous system. It can produce alertness and elation.

While meth is sometimes used legally for attention deficit disorder and obesity, it is often manufactured illegally using household products such drain cleaner, antifreeze and battery acid.

– Patrick Johnsto