Drug agents discover dismantled meth lab

GAINESVILLE - Hall County drug agents discovered a dismantled methamphetamine lab at a house on Atlanta Highway in Oakwood Tuesday.

They also report arresting two people in the course of the investigation: Harold Anthony Elrod, 36, and Eva Suzette Hart, 42, both of Oakwood.

Each was charged with Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana (misdemeanor , and Possession of a Dangerous Drug.

Lt. Scott Ware of the Hall County Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad (MANS) said both were arrested during a joint investigation with Flowery Branch Police Department and the Hall County Sheriff's Office Crime Suppression Unit.

Lt. Ware says the arrests were made at the home of Hart and Elrod at 3004 Atlanta Highway.

"The search yielded small amounts of marijuana, methamphetamine, and prescription medications," Ware said. "Also located during the course of the search were precursors such as certain chemicals and ingredients used in the clandestine manufacture of methamphetamine."

Those items included "thousands of matchbooks...with the matches still in them," Ware said. "However, the strike plates had been removed. The strike plates contain...red phosphorus, which is one of the ingredients used in the 'backyard'...manufacture of meth."

The officer said agents also found rubbing alcohol, coffee filters, chemical beakers, and a homemade "gassing device" which amounted to a 16-ounce plastic drink bottle with plastic tubing "coming out of it." All, Ware said, are items typically associated with meth labs.