Sheriff: Men charged, found with meth lab in Rockwell home

Published 8:08 pm Thursday, April 9, 2015

ROCKWELL — Two men were charged Thursday with having a potentially highly explosive meth lab at a Rockwell home, officials said.

David Shane Reid of the 2600 block of Lower Stone Church Road, Rockwell, and James Avery Price of Wallace, S.C., were charged following an investigation by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office and the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation.

Reid, 44, was charged with manufacturing methamphetamine; three counts of possession of immediate precursors; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver methamphetamine; conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine; and maintaining a dwelling to keep or sell controlled substances. He was issued a $500,000 and has since been released from the Rowan County Detention Center.

Price, 27, was charged with manufacturing methamphetamine; three counts of possession of immediate precursors; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver methamphetamine; and conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. He has since been released under a $250,000 secured bond.

Evidence uncovered during the investigation showed that Reid and Price had been cooking methamphetamine at the residence on Lower Stone Church Road for at least two months, multiple times per week, officials said.

On Thursday, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office and SBI officials with the Southern Piedmont District and Clandestine Laboratory Response Team executed a state-issued search warrant at the Lower Stone Church Road home.

The search warrant was based on information obtained by the Sheriff’s Office that the residence was being used as a location to manufacture meth. During the search, investigators located a “one pot shake and bake lab,” as well as precursor materials used in this process. This particular method uses a two liter soda bottle, is highly explosive and can cause injuries to the manufacturers, as well as law enforcement officers and first responders.

The Rockwell Rural Fire Department and Tactical Medics from Rowan County EMS assisted investigators at the scene.

Authorities said Reid has an extensive criminal history with at least nine felony convictions in Rowan, Cabarrus and Iredell counties for habitual impaired driving, habitual felon and possession of firearm by felon.

Price has a criminal history in South Carolina with at least two felony convictions for second-degree burglary, and manufacture and possession with intent to distribute illegal drugs.

Authorities ask anyone with information pertaining to clandestine laboratories to contact their local law enforcement officials. Investigators with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office can be reached at 704-216-8700.