Traffic stop led to mobile meth lab find

By NATASHA LAFAYETTE natasha@lafollettepress.com  

During a traffic stop last week, Jacksboro Police Officer Jeremy Goins recovered several meth-making items, charging two with meth manufacturing, according to the Jacksboro Police Department arrest report.

Goins was given information about two people making methamphetamine related  purchases from a large retail store.

“I was given the vehicle description,” said Goins of the gray Buick he identified and later stopped on Appalachian Highway in Jacksboro.

The driver was Jeremy R. White, 26, of 1215 West Ash Street in LaFollette.

Goins said he stopped the vehicle based on both taillights being broken.

The two passengers in the vehicle were Mark David Franklin, 29, of 102 South 27th Street and Eddie Wayne Lemarr, 19, of 516 North 15th Street, both of LaFollette.

Upon stopping the vehicle, Goins said he spoke with the defendant and conducted a field interview.

White said he had purchased a tank of Coleman fuel, according to the arrest report.

“Upon gaining consent to search (the vehicle) from the defendant, I began recovering several items to manufacture meth,” said Goins.

Goins contacted Caryville Detective and Meth Tech Stephanie Smith to assist with the process of recovering the meth items, according to the report.

“They found an entire working meth lab inside the vehicle,” said Jacksboro Police Chief Danny Chapman on Tuesday.

Also assisting was a member of the Tennessee Meth Task Force.

The report indicates the officers recovered more than meth making components from inside the vehicle.

“Det. Smith also recovered two tin lids containing a white powder substance from the passenger rear sear of the vehicle,” said Goins.

Goins further stated several syringes were found inside a food carryout bag.

All three of the defendants were arrested and charged with methamphetamine manufacture and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The trio was taken to jail where they were each later released with a bond of $5,000.