From Staff Reports

An investigation into the manufacture of methamphetamine resulted in the arrest of three men last week, Sheriff’s Department officials said.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, narcotics investigators, members of the Vincent Police Department and members of the Drug Enforcement Administration responded to College Street in Vincent to conduct an investigation into the manufacture of methamphetamine.

During the investigation, items commonly used to manufacture methamphetamine were discovered along with a substantial quantity of guns.

As a result, the Sheriff’s Office reports, Billy Ray Moore, 28, and Stefan Ronald Fontenot, 30, both of Leeds, were arrested and charged with unlawful manufacture of controlled substance. Bond for each was set at $30,000.

While Moore has bonded out of the Shelby County Detention Center, Fontenot remained in the custody of Shelby County Jail as of presstime.

Michael Fontenot, 36, of Vincent, was also arrested and charged with unlawful manufacture of controlled substance, unlawful possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He also was freed on a bond of $41,000.

The Sheriff’s Office reports that the manufacture of methamphetamine is an extremely dangerous process and produces toxic by-products.

Shelby County Sheriff Chris Curry expressed his appreciation to the Vincent Police Department and the DEA for their contributions to the arrests.

&uot;Clandestine drug labs, such as this one, pose a substantial danger to the safety of our communities, &uot; Curry said.

&uot;The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office will investigate all reports of drug activity and make arrests when warranted.&uot;

Curry encouraged citizens to avoid contact with suspected drug labs and report any suspicious drug activity to the Sheriff’s Office at 669-4181