5 children removed during alleged meth lab bust in Lenoir City
When officers arrived at the home in the 2200 block of Highland Avenue in Lenoir City they found it in deplorable condition.Trash and mattresses were scattered on the floor.

LENOIR CITY (WATE) - Five people are facing charges after undercover agents busted a suspected meth lab Wednesday night at a Lenoir City home with five children inside.

When officers arrived at the home at 2215 Highland Avenue, they found it in deplorable condition. Trash and mattresses were scattered on the floor.

They say they also found four shake bottles, coffee filters, muriatic acid, aluminum foil, lithium batteries, Red Devil lye, camp fuel, pseudoephedrine pills and other materials used to make meth.

Five adults were also living in the home when the raid occurred. The homeowner, Gwendlyn Heiple, along with Melinda Towle, Patrick Norris, Brian Clark and James Richard Orr, were all arrested and taken to the Loudon County Jail.

The district attorney general's office says they will each be charged with manufacturing meth. Additional charges will include child endangerment, possession of Schedule II, IV and VI narcotics, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The children ranged from two to eight years old. The Tennessee Department of Children's Services removed them from the home.

The entire area was marked contaminated. 

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5/28/12