Police Stop "Rolling" Meth Lab

A routine traffic stop in Summerdale went South for the driver Thursday night. Dennis Beard was pulled over on Highway 59 when police officers noticed his tag light was out. Officers say Beard acted nervous and refused to let them search his truck.

"He told us he was heading to Gulf Shores to go fishing, "says Summerdale Police Officer Ray Farmer. "Something wasn't right."

Farmer called a K-9 unit to the scene to assist. The dog alerted on the scent of narcotics which gave officers the legal right to search his vehicle. Police didn't find a fishing pole or a tackle box filled with lures...they found a backpack stuffed with chemicals, over-the-counter medication and equipment used to make crystal meth.

"I was expecting to find marijuana," says Farmer. "I wasn't expecting to find a meth lab."

Instead of going fishing, Beard went to jail. Beard was charged with manufacturing a controlled substance. Beard passenger, Michael Harrison, was arrested on a misdemeanor drug charge.