Staff Writer

A third arrest has been made in a case where sheriff's deputies seized marijuana plants, illegal liquor and explosive devices.

Nadine Zayas Brooks, 38, of 1260 Gaffney Highway, Jonesville, was charged Wednesday with manufacturing marijuana. Mrs. Brooks' husband, Morris Ray Brooks, 36, and another person living in their home, Jamie Allen Erwin, 19, were arrested Friday in a raid on their trailer. A report said deputies waited to arrest Mrs. Brooks because she had recently undergone surgery and was under the care of a doctor.

Morris Ray Brooks was charged with possession of illegal liquor, possession of marijuana, manufacturing marijuana and possession of an explosive device.

Erwin was charged with possession of marijuana and manufacturing marijuana.

A report said Lt. John Sherfield received a tip Friday that drugs could be found in Morris Ray Brooks' home. Sherfield got a warrant and he, Lt. David Kitchens, State Constable Billy Bennett and Cpl. Dean Gibson went to the mobile home.

Officers found hydroponic or dirtless marijuana grows in the bathroom of the trailer and in a camper behind it.

Officer also confiscated two bottle of moonshine from a refrigerator in one of the bedrooms.

A metal container that had “danger” written on it contained two homemade pipe bombs with electrical fuses and three large containers of black gun powder. SLED Agents destroyed the devices.

Two firearms were confiscated from a bedroom, a .32 caliber semi automatic Czechoslovakia pistol with two loaded clips and a 7.62 caliber semi automatic rifle with clips and bullets.

Morris Ray Brooks told officers he had “made a mistake” and was sorry for growing the marijuana. He said the marijuana, guns, moonshine, bombs and guns all were his.

Marijuana was found in the pockets of Morris Ray Brooks and Erwin. four small bags of marijuana were found in Erwin's room. Marijuana was found in Morris Ray Brooks' vehicle.

Officers seized Morris Ray Brooks' phone, which contained photos and videos of the marijuana grow.

Crack arrest

Douglas Hall, 46, of 1034 Neal Shoals Road, was charged Wednesday by the Union County Sheriff's Office with distribution of crack and distribution of crack within on-half mile of a school.

A report said Kitchens and Sherfield provided an informant with money in January. Hall sold the informant $20 worth of crack cocaine in the parking lot of Dixie Curb Market on 503 South Church St., which is near Excelsior Middle School.

Hall was taken into custody in the parking lot behind Provident Bank on West Main Street.

Tractor damaged

Also on Wednesday, Department of Transportation shop foreman Robert Garner told Deputy Wendy Childers that someone damaged a John Deer tractor while it was parked on the side of the road at the intersection of Jonesville-Lockhart Highway and Old Pump Station Road. Both headlights and a side mirror were broken. The front screen covering the compressor was punctured, causing damage to the cooling fins. Damage was estimated at $300.