By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A 24-year-old Calera man has been indicted on multiple drug charges, and charges against his father have been sent to a grand jury in a case allegedly involving a bomb scare and ties to the “Gangster Disciples” street gang.

A Shelby County grand jury returned a three-count indictment against 24-year-old Demarco Lanier Hall, who lists an address on Ninth Avenue in Calera, on Aug. 26, upholding felony charges of first-degree possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Demarco Hall is now scheduled to appear in Shelby County Circuit Court for an arraignment on Oct. 4.

The Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force arrested Demarco Hall alongside his father, 43-year-old Jason Lanier Hall, who lists an address on Fourth Avenue Northeast in Alabaster, on April 21 and charged them each with multiple felonies.

Jason Hall is facing felony counts of possession of a destructive device, first-degree receiving stolen property, possession of an illegal firearm, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, first-degree unlawful possession of marijuana and a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

On Aug. 31, the charges against Jason Hall were bound over to a grand jury for consideration. The grand jury will decide during an upcoming session if it will uphold the charges against Jason Hall.

Task Force members responded to Jason Hall’s house the night of April 21 after receiving the anonymous tip, and made contact with the Halls. After realizing Demarco Hall was on probation for a previous felony domestic violence charge, Task Force members requested help from Office of Probation and Parole officers, and began a search of the suspect’s property.

During their search, officers allegedly discovered seven firearms Jason Hall was not allowed to have because of his criminal history, marijuana, heroin, prescription medication and cocaine. Officers also allegedly discovered materials linking the suspects with the “Gangster Disciples” street gang.

Of the seven firearms allegedly found in Jason Hall’s possession, four were stolen from Calera, Montevallo, Tuscaloosa and Madison County. The firearms charges have been turned over to the Birmingham office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, according to Drug Task Force Commander Lt. Clay Hammac.

Also during their search, Hammac said officers discovered an active pipe bomb in a vehicle on the property, prompting the Task Force, the Alabaster Police Department and the Alabaster Fire Department to evacuate a 300-yard radius around the house while the Hoover Police Department’s bomb squad responded to the scene.

Hammac said the bomb squad safely detonated the bomb at the scene before allowing nearby residents to return to their homes.

As of Sept. 22, Jason Hall was being held in the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling more than $1.2 million, and Demarco Hall was being held on bonds totaling more than $1 million. Both suspects’ bonds were set higher than normal at the request of the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office.