DeKalb County Sheriff's Department  deputies, serving a search warrant for the illegal sale of weapons late Thursday night, apparently discovered a meth lab and marijuana operation on Old Mill Hill Road in Dowelltown.
Anthony Mason Adcock, 43, came as the result of a lengthy investigation by the sheriff's department. Two other arrests were also made, 42-year-old Tammi Faye Adams and 34-year-old Shawn Bradley Patton were reportedly taken into custody at the residence.
Adcock was charged with two counts of possession of a weapon by a felon, manufacture of a Schedule VI drug (marijuana) and initiating a process to result in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
His bond was set at $125,000, and he will appear in court on May 16.
Adams was charged with manufacture of a Schedule VI drug (marijuana) and initiating a process to result in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
Her bond was set at $50,000, and she will appear in court on May 16 as well.
Money, an outside security system, and a car were seized in the operation.
The home has been placed under quarantine because of the meth lab discovery.
Patton was arrested at the scene for violation of parole.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, the investigation into Adcock’s activities has been going on for some time.
“Adcock has a lengthy criminal background and he is no stranger to law enforcement,” the sheriff said. “Adcock has been convicted of many drug offenses such as the manufacture of a Schedule II drug (methamphetamine), simple possession of a Schedule II drug (methamphetamine), conspiracy to manufacture/possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, simple possession of a Schedule VI drug (marijuana), and weapon charges such as carrying a weapon for the purpose of going armed and possession of a destructive device (pipe bomb).”
Ray said that Adcock was involved in one of the first meth lab busts in the county, and one of the first the sheriff had experience with as well.
 “Adcock was one of DeKalb County’s first methamphetamine lab busts in the late 90s, and was one of the first meth labs I worked on,” Ray shared
“Adcock also at that time had an explosive device, which was a pipe bomb, in his home.
“Adcock was charged here locally at that time, and then we were able to get him into the federal court system. Since that time he has had even more drug arrests.”
As for the arrests last week, Ray said Adcock’s status as a convicted felon spurred the investigation when he allegedly sold firearms he was prohibited from possessing.
“We were able to get a search warrant on Adcock’s residence after an investigation into the illegal sale of weapons,” Ray said.
“Adcock is a convicted felon and cannot possess, buy, sale, or trade on any firearms of any kind.
“When we arrived at the Old Mill Hill Road address, Adcock, Adams, Patton, and three other individuals were there. While conducting the search warrant we found a .22 caliber pistol in his residence and we also found ammunition.
“During the search we also found marijuana, marijuana paraphernalia such as pipes, plastic grow trays, marijuana seeds, and over 30 small marijuana plants that Adcock had growing in a plastic tote.
“My department and I stopped the search, and my drug detectives and I went back to the jail and obtained yet another search warrant for the marijuana, the paraphernalia, and any other controlled drugs.
Ray said the search turned up even more damning evidence.
“When we executed that search warrant for the drugs, not only did we find items to manufacture marijuana with, we also found items that are consistent in the manufacture of methamphetamine, such as tubing, coffee filters, turkey basters, ammonium nitrate, drain cleaner, and acid in a 20 -ounce soda bottle.”
Ray said more charges are pending in the case, and drug detectives will be contacting Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms about possible federal charges.