By Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

 

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested two people last month after discovering a methamphetamine lab in a vehicle along I-26.

 

According to sheriff reports, Brandon Keith Lovelace, 34, of Mecklenburg County was arrested and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, trafficking methamphetamine, maintaining a vehicle to keep a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, and Brandi Nichole Pinson, 32, of Gaston County, was arrested and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine and trafficking methamphetamine.

 

The Polk County PACE team observed a suspicious vehicle in Columbus on Nov. 17 and discovered Lovelace had an outstanding warrant out of Cleveland County and that his license was revoked.

 

At the time, Polk County was without a drug K9 on duty and requested a Rutherford County K9. Rutherford County Deputy Jordan Ray responded with his K9 Rocky, who alerted on the vehicle. Officers discovered a cooler inside the vehicle that contained numerous chemicals, which deputies immediately recognized as a meth lab, according to sheriff reports.

 

Clan lab (clandestine chemical lab) personnel were called from the Polk sheriff’s office and the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). The Columbus Fire Department assisted with traffic. One lane of I-26 was closed for approximately one hour.

 

The vehicle was moved to the sheriff’s office where a search warrant was secured and the lab was properly disposed, according to the sheriff’s office.

 

Lovelace and Pinson are both still in custody under $20,000 bonds each. The sheriff’s office says both Lovelace and Pinson have extensive criminal histories. The sheriff’s office also says the release of the information to the public was delayed until the investigation was complete.