Police bust meth lab at apartment

Richmond County sheriff's deputies arrested two men at a south Augusta apartment complex Sunday night after receiving an anonymous tip that a methamphetamine laboratory might be operating there.

James Willis Hancock, 51, and Steven Charles Wiggins, 31, were taken to the Richmond County jail and face felony charges of manufacturing methamphetamines and possession of methamphetamines, according to jail records.

Mr. Hancock is listed as a tenant at the apartment where the drug paraphernalia was found. Mr. Wiggins lives on Clark Road in south Augusta, the report said.

On Sunday night, authorities were called twice to the apartment at Glenwood I Apartments, on Lumpkin Road, to investigate a suspected meth lab operation, Augusta-Richmond County Fire Batallion Chief Bryan McFeely said.

Police responded to the first call at about 7:21 p.m. and found two children alone inside the apartment, Chief McFeely said. About two hours later, fire, hazardous-materials and other emergency response personnel were again sent to the apartment after smoke was reported pouring from inside, Chief McFeely said.

Upon entering the apartment, emergency personnel found a variety of chemicals associated with the manufacture of methamphetamines, including ethyl glycol and red phosphorus, Chief McFeely said.

Authorities temporarily evacuated about 30 tenants from their apartments and closed a part of Lumpkin Road. They used ventilation to clear the smoke from the building, Chief McFeely said.

"No one was injured, but we don't take such incidents lightly. Even something small can be just as dangerous," he said, noting that a powdery phosphorus substance was found in a "small Tupperware bowl."

He said police are seeking another person who was also inside the apartment.

Reach Timothy Cox at (706) 823-3217 or tim.cox@augustachronicle.com.