Tallapoosa Police had a busy week after making two arrests for separate methamphetamine cases on Dec. 7 and 9.

The first happened Monday, Dec. 7, on Highway 78 near the Alabama line, where Sgt. Danny Turner stopped a Ford pickup truck for having expired and obstructed tags. At approximately 5:54 p.m., Turner said he approached the truck when the passenger, 18-year-old Michael Ian Johnson of Temple, exited the truck with a black bag and ran into a nearby wooded area.

“At this time, the driver had pulled over on the side of the road at a nearby convenient store (to perhaps get out of the way) while the passenger was running,” Turner said. “I called for back up during the chase, and then officers set up a perimeter to catch him.”

Johnson ran right into the officers, who said they arrested him with help from the police dog that tracked down the black bag Johnson dropped during his flee from police.

Turner reported they found a “portable lab,” which had components needed to produce methamphetamine. The contents in the bag, described as ingredients for the “shake and bake” method, included containers, fertilizers, lye, lithium batteries, drain cleaner and packaging materials, according to Turner.

“There were also syringes, coffee filters, plastic tubing – very volatile and corrosive items,” he added.

On the scene, police also found that Johnson had outstanding warrants through the Bremen Police Department for a violation of probation. Johnson is being held at the Haralson County Jail for his recent alleged behavior. Tallapoosa Police charged him with obstructing a police officer, possession of drug-related objects and conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, reported Turner.

The driver who was pulled over during the incident was cited with three violations, including expired license, expired tags and obstructed tags.

This case set the precedent for what was to come later during the week when another traffic stop for tags led to an arrest for possession of methamphetamine and other charges, according to police.

David Lee Slade Jr. of Bremen was apprehended in the incident Wednesday night after police pulled him over for traveling without illuminated tag lights.

Officer Fallon Hurst stopped the Mitsubishi driven by 31-year-old Slade at approximately 9 p.m. on Highway 100 at Interstate 20 in Tallapoosa.

“Slade gave Officer Hurst his brother’s license, who was in the car, when Hurst asked for identification,” according to police. “Officer Hurst figured out that it wasn’t his (Slade’s) real license, and when Slade turned over his real license, Hurst saw that he had warrants for Haralson County [Sheriff’s Office].”

Reports indicate that Hurst then arrested Slade before searching the vehicle, which contained methamphetamine and syringes under the driver’s seat. More than 100 pseudoephedrine pills were discovered, along with coffee filters, fertilizers and other materials in the trunk believed to be used for a mobile lab.

Police say Slade claimed all of the property in the car, which held two other passengers when Hurst made the stop.

The incident left Slade with charges of possession of drug-related objects and manufacture of methamphetamine to add with his possession of methamphetamine charge. Police confirmed the two passengers were released without charges while Slade awaits his court appearance at the Haralson County Jail.

“We had two working labs, and that’s a very volatile situation,” Turner said. ”We don’t need that on the roads right now.”

Tallapoosa Police Chief Scott Worthy echoed his relief and commended officers for their efforts in keeping the community safe.