By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Two Brent residents and a West Blocton resident are being held in the Shelby County Jail on bonds ranging from $101,000 to $251,000 after they were arrested and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine.

Twenty-year-old Brent resident Jeremy Quiles, 20-year-old West Blocton resident Christopher Richey and 37-year-old Brent resident Sheila Richey were arrested by the Pelham Police Department on Oct. 6 and each charged with counts of second-degree manufacture of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The arrests came after an Oct. 6 traffic stop near the intersection of Valleydale Road and U.S. 31. During the traffic stop, a K-9 officer alerted police to methamphetamine precursors in the suspects’ vehicle, said Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force Lt. Kevin Turner.

After searching the car, Pelham police allegedly discovered a pack of AA batteries valued at $8, a pack of sinus and cold medication valued at $12, decongestant valued at $15, unused insulin syringes valued at $60, 100-percent lye drain opener valued at $10, a gallon size can of Coleman fuel valued at $10 and 40 small plastic baggies valued at $40, according to police reports.

“They pretty much had all the components to make meth with them,” Turner said.

According to Alabama law, second-degree manufacture of a controlled substance is a Class B felony. If convicted of the crimes, the three suspects could face between two-20 years in prison.

Christopher Richey is being held in the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $251,000 and Sheila Richey and Quiles each are being held on bonds totaling $101,000.