Decatur police arrest five people in Sunday meth lab bust

Police tape

DECATUR, Alabama - Five people, including a juvenile, were arrested Sunday when police busted a methamphetamine lab at a West Chapel Hill Road home.

Police charged Maurice White Moore, 46, of Decatur, Justin Paul Gay, 31, of Decatur, April Marie Ferguson, 28, of Moulton and Joey Lee Wilhite, 33, of Decatur with first-degree manufacturing a controlled substance, a police news release said.

Gay, Ferguson and Wilhite were also charged with loitering in a drug house. A 17-year-old juvenile was also charged with loitering in a drug house.

Bonds were set at $5,000 for Moore, and $5,500 for Gay, Ferguson and Wilhite. The juvenile was released to a guardian.

Police said they received a call Sunday that Moore was cooking meth at his home at 3491 West Chapel Hill Road with several other people. Several Decatur police officers who responded to the call encountered an overwhelming odor coming from the home that they associated with a meth lab, the release said. The people inside the house tried to run when they saw the officers, but police were able to catch three men and the juvenile when they ran out.

Officers saw Ferguson in the house, but she would not come out and the officers wouldn't go in because of the dangers associated with meth labs, the news release said.

Investigators with the police department's Special Operations Division and with the Morgan County Drug wearing protective equipment went inside and found Ferguson hiding. She was arrested and brought out, police said.

A search of the house found an active meth lab, hazardous chemicals, paraphernalia and methamphetamine.

Police are investigating and more charges are expected to be filed. Three of the people arrested have pending charges from a similar incident earlier this year, police said. Police will try to have their bonds from that incident revoked.

The officers who initially responded to the call Sunday were treated at the scene by paramedics and didn't require any further medical treatment.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.