Jeremy Cross
Hamilton County Sheriff officers arrested two men Thursday in what first started as a search warrant for stolen property at 7464 Gates Road that progressed into locating methamphetamine labs.
While searching the residence at 7464 Gates Road for stolen property, a meth lab was located in the garage area of the home, and then several more were located in the wooded area behind the home. As the investigation progressed information was received that two suspects could be located at a second address at 7434 Gates Road.
One of the suspects, Jeremy Cross, 26, was located inside the home at 7434 Gates Road while Scotty Higgins, 31, was found hiding in the attic. Higgins was thought to be armed and deputies returned to the attic area to search for a possible weapon. While searching the attic for a weapon, a meth lab placed under insulation spilled exposing two deputies to the chemicals and one also suffered burns to an arm and leg. Both deputies received medical attention at an area hospital.
Cross was charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, while Higgins was charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts of felony reckless endangerment, vandalism and felony possession of methamphetamine.
Both were transported to the Hamilton County Jail.
Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire and Rescue and Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services were called to the scene while the State Methamphetamine Task Force responded for clean-up and scene safety.
Scotty Higgins