By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

Police charged a couple with manufacturing methamphetamine at their West Bank Street rental home and are searching for a third person in connection with a meth lab operation there.

Salisbury Police charged Floyd Thomas Hellard II, 40, and his wife Jennifer Louise Porter, 48, both of the 1100 block of West Bank Street, with maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances, possession of a controlled substance schedule I, possession of an immediate precursor chemical, five counts manufacturing a controlled substance schedule I, and possession of drug paraphernalia, all of which are felonies.

Police had been receiving complaints from the community that there was possible drug activity at the home and that the renters were likely “cooking meth,” according to one investigator.

Officials obtained search warrants Thursday and searched the home around 10:30 a.m. where they found five one-pot meth labs made from 2-liter soda bottles. The labs contained “liquid” or meth residue. Investigators seized lithium batteries, a large quantity of Sudafed packages, needles and syringes, Drano, gas generators and salt.

The couple had been renting the home for six months. Police are still looking for the third person, Tampas Lee Money, 43, who also lived at the home. The trio are all on probation.

Hellard is currently on 18 months probation following a charge of driving while license revoked, resisting an officer and false report or theft. He’s been convicted of felony possession of schedule II, driving while license revoked, larceny, driving while impaired, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, misdemeanor breaking and entering and disorderly conduct.

Porter is currently on 18 months probation following a conviction for possession of a schedule IV and resisting arrest. Money has a pending January court case for misdemeanor possession of stolen goods, driving a vehicle without a registration, no vehicle insurance and no operator’s license.

Both Porter and Hellard remain in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $250,000 secured bond. The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, Granite Quarry Police and SBI assisted in this investigation.

Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Tampas Lee Money is asked to call the Salisbury Police at 704-638-5333.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.