2 kids found at suspected meth lab; 7 arrested

Putnam County Sheriff's Office booking photo of Willie Ray Heath

EAST PALATKA, Fla. – The Putnam County Sheriff's Office's vice unit and SWAT team serving a search warrant at a home on Kane Road late Thursday morning report finding nine adults manufacturing and selling methamphetamine in the house and a camper on the property.  They also found small children in the home.

Detectives said they located a used meth lab, and once all the occupants were cleared, the meth lab response team moved in to clear the home of the highly volatile chemicals found.

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The 2- and 4-year-old children were turned over to the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families. 

The following people were arrested:

  • Willie Ray Heath (pictured, right) is charged with sale of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of controlled substance, possession of chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine, maintaining a drug dwelling, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
  • Tanner Smith, charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
  • Jeremy Loper, charged with possession of drug paraphernalia
  • Timothy Steele, charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine.
  • Harley Heath, charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia
  • Erica Orlowski, charged with possession of methamphetamine, Possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia
  • Destini Gibbs, charged with possession of drug paraphernalia
  • Jaime Kennedy, charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia
  • Nicole Kennedy, possession of methamphetamine, possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia

All were booked into the Putnam County Jail.