WINNSBORO – A Winnsboro man was arrested after Fairfield County Sheriff’s deputies discovered he was manufacturing methamphetamine in the back seat of a car in the Bi-Lo parking lot.
Sanders
Bradley Alson Sanders, 48, was charged with using a motor vehicle without consent to manufacture methamphetamine in what deputies described as a ‘shake and bake’ lab.
Sheriff’s deputies said they were notified a little after 1 p.m. on Tuesday that a man wearing a blue button up shirt and carrying a blue book bag had been seen in the Bi-Lo grocery store parking lot for “a couple of weeks” and was “going to people’s cars.” The report said the suspect was also seen in the back seat area of a Bi-Lo employee’s car without permission.
The suspect was identified by the employee, the report stated. The incident report also stated that officers were familiar with Alston from previous methamphetamine related drug charges.
When a deputy arrived at the Bi-Lo parking lot, he was told the suspect had been seen walking into the woods after the Bi-Lo employee told the suspect he had been reported to law enforcement. While looking for the suspect, the officer called for backup, then returned to the parking lot to find what he determined was an active meth lab in the back seat of the car.
The county’s narcotics unit as well as the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) arrived and a methamphetamine cleanup crew was brought in to collect, remove and clean up the mobile lab area.
In the meantime, sheriff’s deputies located Sanders in the wooded area off of Columbia Road near Bi-Lo. Deputies reported Sanders’ book bag and several syringes (needles) that were located in the area and believed to be associated with Sanders, were turned over to the narcotics investigators.
Sanders was arrested and warrants were obtained for manufacturing methamphetamine 3rd offense, manufacturing methamphetamine 3rd offense within one-half mile of a school and use of a vehicle without permission (unlawful use).
Bond information was not available to The Voice at press time.