Narcotics officers with Clanton Police Department worked three meth cases this week, busting two active labs, including one inside a room at Days Inn.

The first lab was found Monday after a driver on Coodey Road reported suspicious activity to patrol officers.

Officers Ronald Giles and Jason Harris went to the area and found a discarded, but still active, meth lab in a trash bag just inside the wood line at Coodey Road and Scott Drive, according to Police Chief Brian Stilwell.

Officers staked out the area to try to catch the person cooking the meth, but he or she never returned.

“The meth cook hid it in the wood line in an apparent attempt to come back later and get it,” Stilwell said. “These things are so dangerous we had to put safety first and recover the lab (rather than wait further). We have good information in this case, and I foresee charges coming very soon.”

The second active lab was found Thursday at Days Inn after Officer Chris Wilson noticed suspicious activity while checking on businesses around Exit 205. He began monitoring the person and contacted Detective Erick Smitherman, according to Stilwell.

During an investigation, an active meth lab was discovered in a room at the hotel.

Tina Leane Hope was arrested and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of a dangerous drug and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was booked in the Chilton County Jail on bonds totaling $50,000.

Also arrested was Bryan Russell Dorminey on charges of possession of a dangerous drug and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked in the Chilton County Jail on bonds totaling $15,000.

“These two characters took advantage of a local business to conduct illegal activity,” said Stilwell. “Now, this business has a mess to clean in order to make this room safe to rent again.”

The third meth-related case happened Wednesday when Christopher Scott Crumpton was arrested during a traffic stop on Eighth Street.

Clanton detectives were in the neighborhood working on another case when Crumpton drove by and allegedly threw items out of his car window, Stilwell said.

A detective riding in an unmarked car got out and recovered the item, which turned out to be an empty Skoal can. A traffic stop was performed near Rolling Oaks Apartments, during which a substance that appears to be methamphetamine was recovered.

Crumpton was arrested and charged with possession of a dangerous drug and booked in the Chilton County Jail on bonds totaling $5,000.

The drug cases come just a few weeks after CPD Capt. David Clackley earned special certification that allows him to handle the removal and disposal of meth labs. Clackley earned the Hazardous Materials Level A Certification in May.

“These labs are very dangerous and can be ticking time bombs. If not handled properly, they can damage property, seriously injure or kill,” Stilwell said. “They are also a huge expense to the police department to dispose of properly. Unfortunately, our meth cooks don’t care about who they potentially hurt and just toss these labs in dumpsters and on the side of the road when they are done, where they could explode and hurt innocent people.”