Rhea County sheriff’s deputies uncovered their first meth lab in several months after intercepting a drug delivery bound for a local industry.

Deputy Mike Patterson received information from a confidential informant that Tammy Lynn Wilson, 34, of Bunch Lane, Dayton, would be transporting a large amount of methamphetamine to sell at a plant in the Dayton Industrial Park, according to Patterson.

After Patterson learned that Wilson’s driver’s license was suspended, he stopped her 1994 Chevrolet Corsica as soon as he spotted it. Wilson was driving the car, while her boyfriend, David Callahan, 31, of Soddy-Daisy, and her 9-month-old son were passengers in the car.

When Patterson told Wilson he knew she was transporting methamphetamine, she handed over six plastic bags containing a large amount of the illegal drug. She also gave Patterson permission to search her mobile home, the officer said.

Patterson and Sgt. Davin Payne then went to her mobile home on Bunch Lane, off of Armstrong Ferry Road.

“We smelled a very strong odor of meth as soon as we opened the door,” Patterson said.

As soon as the officers determined that the mobile home was vacant, they retreated. Payne, a certified clandestine meth lab technician, put on his protective gear and went back into the mobile home to begin a preliminary assessment. Payne called for Sgt. Matt Rose, also a certified clandestine meth lab technician, to assist in the assessment, and Sheriff Mike Neal, Chief Deputy John Argo and deputies Gerald Brewer, Zach Davis and Josh Thomason arrived to lend a hand.

Payne and Rose found several meth-making components under the kitchen sink. Under the bathroom sink they found the meth lab itself with several liquid components being separated out in glass jars, according to Patterson.

The officers also found a small bag of marijuana on a bedroom dresser, a box of needles, pipes, scales and other drug paraphernalia.

When the officers searched Callahan’s car, a 1994 Pontiac Firebird, parked at the home, they found a coffee filter containing methamphetamine residue, Patterson said.

The officers seized the drug paraphernalia, both vehicles and over $400 in cash.

“While we were processing the lab, we noticed that there were children’s belongings, clothes and toys throughout the mobile home, so we called in Rocky Potter,” Rose said.

Potter investigates crimes against children for the sheriff’s department.

Rose then took samples from the carpet, baby crib, toys and clothing for traces of methamphetamine. All the samples were forwarded to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s forensic laboratory in Nashville for analysis.

Potter interviewed both Wilson and Callahan and learned that the pair had been dating for about nine months. They admitted to “cooking” meth half a dozen times since December, at least two of those times with Wilson’s two young children—the 9-month-old boy and his 2-and-a-half-year-old sister—in the mobile home, Potter said.

Wilson also has two older children who live with their father.

“They said they tried to have grandparents keep the kids most of the time when they cooked, and they used fans and duct-taped plastic over the door to the bathroom when they children were there,” Potter said. “They said they cooked last Thursday, and you could still smell the meth on the kids’ clothes.”

Rhea County General Sessions Judge Jimmy McKenzie placed the two children in the emergency temporary custody of family members, Potter said.

Patterson charged Wilson with driving on a suspended license, manufacturing a Schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of a Schedule II controlled substance for resale, felonious possession of drug paraphernalia and simple possession of marijuana. She is currently being held in the Rhea County Jail pending payment of a $77,000 bond.

The deputy charged Callahan with possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Callahan is being held in the Rhea County Jail pending payment of a $75,000 bond.

Potter plans to present evidence to the Rhea County Grand Jury next week seeking original indictments against both Wilson and Callahan for two counts of aggravated child abuse.

John Carpenter can be reached at jcarpenter@xtn.net.