Three people ended up in jail after allegedly being involved in the operation of a methamphetamine lab.

Bobby Lester Avery, 25, 1208 W. Main St., Apt. 10-D, Union; Chad Everett Fincher, 37, 225 Harwood Heights, Union; and Mandy Christine Dunaway, 25, 1208 W. Main St., Apt. 10-D, Union, are each charged by the Union County Sheriff’s office with manufacturing methamphetamine and unlawful disposal of methamphetamine waste.

The incident report states deputies executed a search warrant on Avery’s apartment on on Jan. 13. After forcing their way in, deputies began searching the apartment and found Dunaway in the bathroom. Dunaway was secured and, after resuming their search, deputies noticed Avery coming out of an vacant apartment next door. A deputy then spoke with Avery and advised him of his rights. The report states Avery admitted he had been next door and had a bottle there. When asked if he was alone, the report states Avery said no, that Fincher was next door making methamphetamine and that he was helping him.

Some of the deputies then went next door where they found Fincher hiding in an attic area of the apartment. He was placed in handcuffs and also detained.

While inside both apartments, deputies could smell a very strong chemical smell which the report states is indicative of most methamphetamine labs. While searching Avery’s residence, the report states deputies found a hair dryer, glass container, tin foil, coffee filters, rock salt, lithium batteries, digital scales, Epehdrine, cold packs and cold pack ingredients, Hydrogen Peroxide, Rooto Drain cleaner, salt, and a butane torch. Most of the items were found in the bedroom of Avery’s apartment.

The report states that while searching the vacant apartment, deputies found a plastic container on a shelf behind a toilet with chemicals already mixed, a bottle of liquid fire, container of plain salt, a container of sea salt, coffee filters, a coffee cup, a white powder substance with a strong chemical smell in the sink of the bathroom. There was also discarded, used syringes in a cabinet under the sink, a green funnel which contained a coffee filter, and a white substance with a strong chemical smell. All these items were located in the bathroom area of the vacant apartment.

In the bedroom of the vacant apartment, the report states deputies found Coleman fuel, a stripped Energizer lithium battery, plastic baggies in a metal container, a plastic bottle with a quantity of white powder debris in the bottom with a strong chemical smell, a piece of white hose attached to the bottle, several discarded syringes, tin foil, and a plastic bag which contained a marijuana pipe/bong.

While speaking with Fincher and advising him of his rights, the report state deputies were told by Fincher that Avery was the cook and that he only helped him. Fincher said he’d seen Avery cook on at least five occasions and that this was the second time that week. He also admitted he’d purchased some Ephedrine for Avery to cook in the past and that Avery would tell him what type to get. Fincher said he was told by a relative of Avery’s that he was going to was going to make a batch of meth to sell and that it would sell for approximately $1,000. He said they used three boxes of Ephedrine for this particular cook.

The report states that while deputies were speaking with him, Avery said Fincher was the cook and that he was helping him. He said Fincher had gotten two boxes of Ephedrine from another man.

Deputies then placed Avery, Fincher and Dunaway under arrest.

On Jan. 14, the report states a deputy determined that Avery had purchased a box of Sudafed 24-hour 2400 which contains 2.4 grams of Ephedrine at a local store. The deputy also learned that Dunaway had purchased a box of Sudafed Max Strength Nasal Decongestant which contains .72 grams of Ephedrine from a local drug store.

The evidence collected at the scene was transported to a secure location and a placard placed at the vacant apartment warning the public that a meth lab had been discovered there.

Assault, Malicious Damage

Tommy Wayne McGowan Jr., 21, 219 Franklin Avenue, Union, is charged by the sheriff’s office with assault and battery third-degree and malcious damage to personal property.

The incident report states that on Saturday, the victim told the responding deputy that she had been assaulted by McGowan while at a residence at 202 Lowry Street. She said she’d gotten into a verbal argument with McGowan over relationship problems and he’d struck her in the face causing her glasses to fly off her face. She said she tried to leave but McGowan pushed her up against a wall, hit her on the left side of her face several more times and poked her in the face. The woman said she then walked out of the bedroom they were in, got her friend and got into her vehicle.

The report states the victim and the friend both said McGowan came outside and ordered the victim to come back inside. When the victim didn’t get out of the car, McGowan came to driver’s side door where the victim was sitting, jerked the door open and again ordered her to come back in the house. The victim again told him no and McGowan slammed the door. ‘

Next, the report states McGowan picked up two objects and threw them at the car, striking the vehicle just behind the driver’s side back door causing a small dent. The victim them jumped out of the car and yelled at McGowan for damaging her car, but her friend got her back in the vehicle and they left to call law enforcement.

At the time of the report, the victim had only a small amount of redness on her left cheek which did not show up in the photos the deputy tried to take of her injuries. The dent in the vehicle didn’t show up in a photo either, but the report states the deputy was able to feel its presence with his hand. Both the victim and the friend gave written statements about the incident.

McGowan was taken into custody Sunday evening.