Lisa Marchesoni
Posted: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 3:46 pm

Meth-making gear confiscated by Sheriff's Department.

Sheriff’s Interstate Crime Enforcement deputies seized a hazardous methamphetamine lab concealed in a trunk inside a motor home last week on Interstate 24.

ICE Sgt. Lee Young stopped a Florida couple for weaving and an expired license plate last Wednesday driving eastbound near the 85-mile marker between the Joe B. Jackson Parkway and Buchanan Road. K-9 Arak alerted Young about the presence of illegal drugs.

“A search of the vehicle revealed a meth lab in a luggage truck in the bedroom,” Young reported. “An instruction manual on how to set up a meth lab was also found in the bedroom.”

Young, Sgt. Shawn Applegate and ICE Deputies Bo Davis and James Davis located about two ounces of marijuana in the freezer and needles and plastic baggies with traces of meth throughout the motor home, he said. More marijuana and meth were located inside the bedroom.

A 40-caliber Smith and Wesson handgun was located under the driver’s seat while a loaded shotgun, rifle and .380-caliber handgun were found in the living area of the motor home, the deputy said.

Narcotics Detective Jason Mathis wore a protective suit to handle the trunk hauling the meth lab and the chemicals.

Young noticed a man driving the motor home but when he stopped the vehicle, a woman was driving. Zachary Samuel Sly, 31, and his girlfriend, Brigitte A. Monet, 46, both of Palm City, Fla., were the only two occupants of the motor home along with some dogs.

Sly and Monet told Young they picked up the trunk for friends of a man named Tyler, who was buried last week and they were supposed to deliver the trunk to friends in Florida.

The sergeant found Sly’s driver’s license was suspended. Young charged Sly and Monet with promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing, simple possession of methamphetamine, possession of a weapon and felony possession of marijuana. Sly was charged with driving on a suspended license.

While they were booked into Rutherford County Adult Detention Center, the Pets Adoption Welfare Services cared for the pet dogs. Their hearing is set Aug. 13 in General Sessions Court.

Young confiscated the 1994 Safari motor home they pair lived in and about $3,000 cash.

This is the second motor home Young confiscated in two weeks. He seized a motor home from two Illinois men he charged with possession of hashish and marijuana. They were en route to Bonnaroo.