Four Chattooga County residents were arrested on Sunday and charged with various drug charges in conjunction with the discovery and seizure of a clandestine methamphetamine lab located at the residence of Billy Ray Watkins of a Dave Moore Road address.

Chattooga County Sheriff Ralph Kellett told AM 1180 Chattooga Radio News that a tip from a concerned citizen to the Lookout Mountain Drug Task Force led to the discovery of the illegal drug lab. 

Chattooga County deputies along with Drug Task Force Agents, assisted by Hays State Prison K-9 Officers, began the operation by conducting a traffic stop on Jason Morgan who had left the address after picking up some methamphetamine.  The dogs with the K-9 Officers alerted the presence of the drug on Morgan.

After the arrest of Morgan officers, obtained a search warrant and subsequently raided the residence of Billy Ray Watkins.  Watkins was arrested along with Jeffery DeBerry and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.  In addition Watkins was charge with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Also arrested during the raid was Amanda Hope Wright who arrived at the residence to purchase drugs while the officers were making the raid.  Wright was charged with possession of methamphetamine after a search of her vehicle produced items containing trace amounts of methamphetamine from recent past use.