Amanda Dale Holt
ATHENS-the Athens Police were called to a disturbance at the Budget Inn on Wednesday, May 6th. They discovered a meth lab and then made an arrest. Here is what Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson had to say about the case:
“This morning at 5:10 the police department received a call from the owner of the Budget Inn on US 31 about smoke coming from one of the rooms. Athens Police Officers responded with the Athens Fire Department.
When officers arrived they noticed one of the rooms door was open and smoke was coming out. Amanda Holt was in the room and told officers the smoke was from a grease fire. She told officers a male that was in the room with her threw the grease into the tub and it caught the shower curtain on fire.
Officers were able to see where the walls were black and the plastic from an overhead vent had melted due to heat. The officers ask Holt what was being cooked and she told them breakfast.
Officers were not able to locate any evidence that anything was being cooked or any pans used to cook in. When they ask Holt about the pans she said her male friend, “must have threw it outside in the grass.” Officers were unable to locate any pans or food outside.
Officers realized the fire wasn’t a grease fire and started to investigate closer. Officers located a trash can in the room that was smoking they took it outside and noticed paper in the can was smoldering. Officers also located a plastic bottle in the trash can and the top was smoking from the top. At that time officers starts thinking they were dealing with a possible meth lab.
Officers also located a bag outside the room containing a baggie of a white substance, coffee filters, lithium batteries, drain cleaner, a pill grinder, several plastic baggies and pseudoephedrine pill packs.
Amanda Dale Holt was arrested and charged with Manufacture of a Controlled Substance first degree and Arson 3rd degree. She was booked at the police department and transferred to the county jail.
Investigators are looking for another person that was also involved in this incident. The investigation into this case will continue.”
