Six people are facing several drug charges after Effingham County Sheriff’s deputies discovered a rolling methamphetamine lab on a traffic stop and found an indoor marijuana growing operation at a residence off Lee Road in Springfield on Thursday afternoon.
According to ECSO reports, investigators conducted a stop on a Chevrolet Avalanche on Old Dixie Highway near Chester Thomas Road after receiving information there was a meth lab inside of the vehicle. Denny Knight, 32, of Springfield, William Malphus, 58, of Springfield, Michael Vickery, 26, of Springfield, and Brent Moore, 27, of Clyo, were inside the vehicle.
Following the stop, investigators found the indoor marijuana patch inside Vickery’s Lee Road residence and found two additional suspects, Lacey Morgan, 29, of Guyton, and Robert Finch, 28, of Springfield.
Knight, Malphus and Moore were arrested and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of tools during the commission of a crime.
Vickery has been charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, and manufacturing marijuana.
Finch and Morgan have been charged with manufacturing marijuana. All six are currently being held in the Effingham County Jail.
Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie expressed his gratitude for the public’s help in the case.
“A citizen’s tip led to the investigation of the meth lab and the growhouse,” he said.
Of the six people arrested, four were repeat offenders “who have been in and out of our jail on various drug charges,” McDuffie added.
The sheriff also said a rolling meth lab poses even more danger than a meth lab at a house because of the risk of a multi-car collision.
In a separate case Wednesday, deputies located another meth lab and arrested a man and several drugs and weapons charges.
Deputies were called to a location off Mclaws Road after a citizen found a meth lab. Following an investigation, deputies located Perry Edwards, 35, of Guyton, who was in possession of three firearms, including an assault rifle, a high-powered rifle and a handgun.
Edwards was charged with several offenses, including manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of pseudoephedrine.
