Trumann Police detective Jonathan Skaggs(left) discusses the recent discovery of a meth lab in the 400 block of Mildred Ave. last Friday with Chief Larry Blagg. (Democrat photo / Ruth Ann Estes)

Lonnie Garrett, 35 of 404 Mildred Ave, Trumann,. and Brandi Wilson, 31, also of the same address, were arrested Thursday night around 7 p.m. by Trumann Police Sgt. Jonathan Skaggs and officer Corey Overstreet after they went to the residence to follow up on a tip in an ongoing investigation.

Officers detected a strong odor coming from inside the residence and asked to search the premises.

"When I knocked on the front door she let me in," said Det. Sgt. Jonathan Skaggs. "They were burning incense when I walked in, But I could smell the chemical odor. You could smell it real bad in the back part of the house. I proceeded to search and found a full cook going on."

Blagg said the pair was in the process of manufacturing methamphetamine using the "one-pot" or "shake-n-go" method to cook the drug. The "one-pot" method is a technique where all of the drug components are cooked in one jar.

"The one pot method is one of the new things out there," Blagg said. "It's just a speedier way of doing it."

The bust was the seventh meth lab Trumann Police have broken up since January and the third attributed to Garrett, according to Blagg. Garrett has two prior drug arrests from January and March pending.

"We've arrested him before but he had gotten out on bond," Blagg said. "He just doesn't seem to learn his lesson."

Trumann Police Department has been at the forefront of breaking up "one-pot method" drug labs, Blagg said. Two of the last three drug lab arrests have been "one-pot method."

"We're actually the first ones to be picking up on them," Blagg said.

Officers found two soda bottles that were in the process of manufacturing the drug and tubing in Garret's pocket which is used in the final stages, along with one ounce of finished methamphetamine and ten ounces of liquid methamphetamine, according to the report.

Also taken from the home was a small child who was only a few feet from the area where the drug was being manufactured.

Garrett is charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, endangering the welfare of a minor, exposing a child to a chemical substance or methamphetamine, use of a communication device to facilitate a felony and four counts of distribution near certain facilities.

Wilson is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance methamphetamine with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, endangering the welfare of a minor, exposing a child to a chemical substance or methamphetamine and four counts of distribution near certain facilities.

Bond has been set for $100,000 cash for both.

A Sept. 29, 2008 hearing has been set before District Judge Steve Inboden at Poinsett County Detention Center.