Pair Found Passed Out At Parsley's Market Awaken To Meth Charges

Two persons found passed out in a car at Parsley's Market early Wednesday morning were arrested by the Cannon County Sheriff's Department.

The driver, Chrystal Leigh Brannam of Winston-Salem, NC, was charged with initiation of methamphetmine manufacture and driving on a suspended license.

The passenger, Jason Mac Brown of McMinnville, was charged with initiation of methamphetmine manufacture.

Cannon County Sheriff's Deputy Tommy Barker was patrolling the Bradyville area of Cannon County when he noticed a suspicious vehicle sitting in the parking lot of Parsley's Market at around 25 minutes after midnight Wednesday.

According to Deputy Barker's incident report, the vehicle was a blue 1993 Chevy Beretta. When he drove past the vehicle, he could hear the engine running but could not see any movement from the passenger compartment.

Deputy Barker reported he pulled around the parking lot and observed the vehicle for two to three minutes before pulling behind it. When he approached the vehicle he observed a female in the driver's seat passed out while the engine was running and a male passed out in the passenger's seat.

The male passenger had in his left hand sitting on his leg a Mason jar with a metal gold ring top, and his right hand was partially covering the lid, the report states.

"I could see a partial section of the Mason jar between his right and left palm and it contained a clear liquid with a white powder inside," Barker wrote.

Barker contacted Deputy Chip Avera to meet him at the location, and walked up to the vehicle and attempted to wake the driver and passenger.

"After several attempts both individuals woke up, when they woke up both subjects seemed very disoriented and unaware of their location and surroundings," Deputy Barker reported. "I asked both subjects for their driver's license, Chrystal Brannam gave me hers but Jason Brown stated that he did not have any. I went back to my patrol unit and checked both subjects for warrants and dispatch advised me that they were both clear and that Ms. Brannam's license was suspended."

Deputy Avera arrived on scene, and interviewed Brown while Deputy Barker spoke with Brannam. She told Deputy Barker she was going to a friend's residence but got lost. She was placed under arrest for driving while suspended and placed in the back of Barker's patrol unit. Deputy Avera put Brown in the back of his unit while they searched the Beretta.

During the search, deputies found a small Mason jar containing a white powder substance mixed with a clear liquid believed to be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine sitting on the floor close to the center console. A gallon plastic jug and a bottle of water along with black electrical tape was sitting on the floor beside the Mason jar. A new pack of Lithium batteries was observed sitting in the console between the driver and passenger seats.

A search of the trunk uncovered a gallon jug almost full of muriatic acid and a cooler believed to store the product.

Detective James Davis was called to the scene. Photographs of the items found in the vehicle were taken. Detective Davis contacted the Meth Hazmat team to have the items removed and destroyed. Pelham's Wrecker Service was contacted to have the vehicle towed from the location.

While checking Brannam's cellphone, Deputy Barker reported seeing several messages indicating use and sell of methamphetamine.

Both subjects were taken to the Cannon County Jail, warrants were taken out, and they were booked. Initial court date is Nov. 2, 2010.