Deputies arrest pair in meth lab bust
Published 12:00 am Friday, October 11, 2002
A woman and her boyfriend residing in the Potters Station area were busted Thursday for operating a methamphetamine lab, Dallas County Sheriff Harris Huffman Jr. said.
Stacie Esties, 35, and David Chavers, 31, were both charged with violation of probation and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Huffman said there may be additional charges as the investigation continues.
Around 1:30 p.m. Thursday, a state probation officer, along with Assistant Chief Deputy Wayne Odom and Sgt. Randy Tucker, went to Esties’ home for a visit as part of her probation requirement.
As the probation officer and Odom stood at the back door and Tucker at the front, they announced their presence.
That’s when the trouble for Esties and Chavers began.
Upon entry in the back door of the house located at 4191 County Road 44, the officers noticed a &uot;big box&uot; of suspicious items in the middle of the floor. The probation officer then requested Esties take an on-site drug test.
Esties tested positive.
Since she was on probation and testing positive was a violation, Esties was immediately arrested.
While in the home, the officers noticed drug paraphernalia &045;&045; tin foil, acetone, copy filter, hypodermic needles,
&045;&045; which prompted a detailed search throughout the house.
The officers found crystallized meth, a microwave used for cooking the meth and a batch of &uot;working meth.&uot;
Articles used for such unlawful behavior and activity was found in the bathroom, kitchen, bedroom and foyer, where the meth lab was set up.
After Esties was taken to the Dallas County Jail to be booked, Huffman arrived to assist in assessing the situation.
Law enforcement officials continued to search the home with Huffman’s assistance. Ten minutes later, Chavers was discovered hiding under a bed in an upstairs bedroom.
Huffman said Chavers &uot;combated&uot; momentarily, but eventually succumbed.
Chavers was also on state probation. He was arrested and charged with the same charges as Esties.
Huffman said both Esties and Chavers had been previously arrested, charged and convicted of running a meth lab in Autauga County.
They were arrested and charged for the same thing last year in Dallas County, but have not gone to trial yet in that case.