HARTSELLE-Several Law Enforcement Agencies conducted a narcotics warrant in Hartselle. Here is how Sheriff Ana Franklin of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department describe events leading up to the arrests:
“On Wednesday, March 11th, 2015, Morgan County Drug Task Force Agents, along with Lawrence County Drug Task Force, Huntsville STAC Agents, Hartselle Police, and Morgan County Deputies executed a narcotics search warrant at 1607 W. Main Street in Hartselle. Agents had conducted an 8 month investigation on several subjects at the residence. Agents had learned that Frankie Jo Whitworth, 45, was leading a large methamphetamine cooking operation at her residence. Over the course of the investigation, agents had developed several suspects that were bringing cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine to the residence to be cooked into methamphetamine. Agents believe as many as 10 different people were bringing cold pills to Whitworth. On several different occasions, agents conducted controlled purchases of meth from Whitworth. Agents secured two Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance warrants on Whitworth. Agents also learned that several other subjects believed to be in the residence had outstanding felony warrants relating to meth.
Agents executed a the search warrant and located Whitworth, Travis Earl Smith, 39, Jennifer Tudor, 37, Jason Wayne Weeks, 39, Marcus Dean, 32, and Jamie Tokarz, 30. Smith and Tudor tried to run out a back door on agents but were detained before they could get outside. Agents located multiple baggies of methamphetamine packaged for resale, acid, lye, fuel, coffee filters, cold packs, rubber tubing, digital scales, pill grinder, and a burnt meth lab in a burn pile. Another subject, Glenn Dale Anderson, 37, was at work. Morgan County deputies went to his place of employment and arrested him there. Agents also located two juvenile children in the residence ages 11 and 14. Morgan County DHR was called to the scene.
Rock Creek VFD was called to bring their child decon trailer to decontaminate the children. Hartselle Fire was called to decontaminate the adults.
Frankie Jo Whitworth was charged with Unlawful Manufacture of a Controlled Substance 1st, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine, Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and two counts of Drug Endangerment of a Child, plus the two distribution warrants. Whitworth’s total bond is set at $670,000.00.
Travis Earl Smith was charged with Unlawful Manufacture of a Controlled Substance 1st, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine, and Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Smith also had a felony warrant for a previous manufacture charge out of Lawrence County. Smith’s bond is set at $520,000.00.
Jennifer Tudor was charged with Unlawful Manufacture of a Controlled Substance 1st, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine, and Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Tudor had a felony warrant for a previous manufacture charge out of Lawrence County. Tudor’s bond is set at $520,000.00.
Glenn Dale Anderson was charged with Unlawful Manufacture of a Controlled Substance 1st, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine, and Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Anderson’s bond is set at $270,000.00.
Jason Wayne Weeks was charged with Unlawful Manufacture of a Controlled Substance 2nd. His bond is set at $100,000.00. Weeks was currently out on bond for previous meth charges.
Marcus Dean was charged with Unlawful Manufacture of a Controlled Substance 2nd. His bond is set at $100,000.00.
Jamie Tokarz was charged with Loitering in a Drug House. Her bond is set at $300.00. All bonds were set by Judge Jennifer Howell.
DHR placed the children in foster care.
Other subjects are being sought in connection with this operation. More arrests are to come.”
