Firefighters respond to meth lab blaze

THOMASVILLE -- A Thursday methamphetamine lab bust at a Summerhill Road mobile home resulted in a grandmother being charged with child cruelty, finding a second lab and smoke and fume removal by firefighters.

Thomas County/Thomasville Narcotics/Vice Division agents were at the 4185 Summerhill scene almost 12 hours.

After several minutes, Bonnie Giles Hawkins, 43, of the Summerhill address, answered agents' knocks on the door about noon.

"When we went inside, we could smell chemicals in the house consistent with a meth lab," said Kevin Lee, narcotics/vice division supervisor.

Lawmen encountered Michael Dempsey Crawford, 47, 170 Prince Road, Cairo, who had black residue on his fingertips -- stains from black iodine and red phosphorus.

"He admitted to having a meth lab in the back of the mobile home," Lee said.

Bond was denied Friday for Crawford.

When officers opened the door to a rear bedroom, smoke rushed from the room, causing agents to cough and their eyes to burn and tear.

Agents shut off the room, went outdoors and called Thomasville Fire Department. Firefighters used exhaust fans to remove smoke and fumes.

Hawkins and Crawford were arrested. Crawford was denied bond. Bond for Hawkins was set at $33,000.

Tammy H. Sanders, 44, and Johnny Charles Sanders, 43, both of 88 Foxcroft Drive, had been sitting on a sofa during the activity. The couple gave agents permission to search their red Dodge Shadow parked in the back year at the mobile home.

"In the trunk of the vehicle, agents found a meth lab in a large gym bag," Lee said. A small amount of methamphetamine was seized from Tammy Sanders' purse.

Mr. Sanders' bond was set at $100,000. Ms. Sanders' is $50,000.

A further search of the mobile home produced a small plastic bag of methamphetamine and a long piece of aluminum foil, known as a boat, containing meth.

During the bust and search, a toddler, about age one, sat on Tammy Sanders' lap. The boy is her grandchild, Lee said. A 17-year-old who lives at the residence was asleep when officers arrived.

Each of the suspects is charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, cruelty to children, methamphetamine possession and unlawful possession of ephedrine.

A meth lab clean-up crew from Alabama, along with agents, were at the scene until 10 p.m.



Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 220.