LAVERGNE, Tenn. – A tip to police led to the arrest of a man and a pregnant woman who were operating a meth lab inside their LaVergne home.
"[The tip came in Saturday] morning and we responded and acted on it quickly," LaVergne Police Chief Kyle Norrod told Nashville's News 2.
According to Norrod, Jeffery Barrett and Brandy Norwood were operating the lab inside their Park Court North home they share with their six children who range in age between six and 15 years old.
"It was very disturbing that they would be using and selling meth with six children and also with her being pregnant," he said.
HAZMAT crews set up a decontamination area where the suspects, in addition to their six children and animals, had to be washed free of the contamination from the meth lab.
Jeannie Durham has lived in the usually quiet neighborhood for 13 years.
She told Nashville's News 2 she was shocked to learn of the illegal drugs being made, especially since her grandchildren often play with the suspect's children.
"I've never seen anything like I saw this morning," she said, adding, "I've always felt safe here, but this is scary two doors down from me."
The children, who Durham described as "scared" and "crying", were taken to a local hospital for tests and remain in DCS custody.
Authorities said Barrett and Norwood are facing six counts of aggravated child endangerment, charges for possession of meth and manufacturing the drug.
Barrett is also charged with violation of probation and reckless endangerment among others. He is being held on $101,500 bond.
Norwood is additionally charged with reckless endangerment and possession of drug paraphernalia among others. She remains in jail on $95,500 bond.
Jeffrey Barnett
Brandy Norwood
