LPD walks in on active lab

LaFollette Police officers were able to seize an active meth lab thanks to information provided by an anonymous tip.

According to LaFollette Police Department records, officers were alerted to the potential lab at 208 Massachusetts Avenue on Monday.

Det. Sgt. Jason Henegar said when Officer Dennis Chadwell approached the residence two males ran out the back door.

“As Officer Chadwell approached the trailer two men attempted to get away. One of them was caught just outside the door and the other was apprehended a short distance away in the woods,” Henegar said.

The men were later identified as David Huddleston, 26, of 209 Higdon Lane, and Darrell Dewayne Riggs, 23, of 208 Massachusetts Avenue.

In addition to Huddleston and Riggs, Greg Smith, 31, of 204 South Cumberland Avenue, Sheila Riggs, 40, of 208 Massachusetts Avenue and Mary Albright, 37, of 111 McKinney Road were also found inside the home.

Reports state a search of the trailer revealed a meth lab with a cook allegedly in progress.

The massive clean-up required for this sizeable lab lasted until 5 a.m. Tuesday and required all five occupants of the residence to be decontaminated.

“This was actually one of the more sizeable labs we have seized lately,” Henegar said commenting on the size of the lab.

Along with Chadwell, Det. Lt. Monty Miller, Det. Sgt. Jason Henegar, Officers Jonathan Finley, Daniel Terry, Steve Wallen, James Lynch, Ronald Halcomb and Susan Sowder were involved in the seizure of the lab.

Huddleston, Darrell Riggs, Sheila Riggs, Smith and Albright were all charged with felony possession of drug paraphernalia, promotion to manufacture meth and initiation of the procedure intended to manufacture meth.

 Darrell Riggs and Smith also racked up additional charges.   Riggs was also charged with resisting stop, frisk, halt. Smith received an additional charge of theft over $1,000. The charge stemmed from discovery of a vehicle at the scene of the lab that had been reported stolen on Friday.