3 Arrested After Meth Lab Bust Near Lexington

Officers arrested three Lexington County residents Wednesday after finding a meth lab at a home on Old Orangeburg Road near Lexington. 

William Christopher Brown, 32, of West Columbia; William Thomas Morgan, 39, of Lexington; and Crystal Marie Rackley, 25, of Lexington are each charged with manufacturing methamphetamine.

A tip led Lexington County Sheriff's deputies to a home at 1621-A Old Orangeburg Road, according to the sheriff's department. When deputies arrived around 3:51 a.m., they could smell a strong chemical odor. 

When deputies entered the house, it was hazy, according to the sheriff's department. They could smell an even stronger chemical odor.

They found Brown, Morgan and Racley asleep in a bedroom, according to the sheriff's department. When they searched a backpack in the bedroom, they found a reaction vessel that was actively being used to make meth. They also found two other active reaction vessels in the home and other items used to manufacture meth.

Officers with the Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET) and Lexington County Sheriff's deputies arrested Brown, Morgan and Rackley. They are being held at the Lexington County Detention Center awaiting bond hearings.

Anyone with information about illegal drug activity in Lexington County should call the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department at 803-785-8230 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.