Deputies: 2 children found in motel meth lab

Homeless couple charged with making meth in St. Augustine Beach motel room

ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, Fla. – A toddler and an infant were found Monday inside a St. Augustine Beach motel room being used as a meth lab, according to authorities.

Brian K Gibson, 39, and Jessica L. Gibson, 28, who are homeless, have been charged with production and possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, maintaining a drug dwelling and child neglect, deputies said.

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The Gibsons have two other children who were not at the motel Monday. All four children are now in the custody of the Department of Children and Families.

Brian Gibson's bond was set at $51,000 and Jessica Gibson's bond was set at $31,000 at a first appearance hearing Tuesday morning in St. Johns County. Their arraignment date has not been set.

The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office said a witness saw the toddler Monday walking alone in the parking lot of the Americas Best Value Inn on A1A South about 10:40 a.m. and took the child to the office.

The clerk called St. Augustine Beach police, and the officers who responded found meth lab materials inside the room and called the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office Clandestine lab team, deputies said.

After suiting up, the meth lab team confirmed evidence of precursor meth materials inside the room that later tested positive for methamphetamine.

A man staying in the room below where the meth lab was found said he was upset to learn about the illegal activity because he was staying at the motel with his wife and two children and he's concerned something could have happened to his family.

"I actually know that meth labs can have issues with regards to their flammability as well as the chemicals being hazardous to your health, so that really upset me so, of course," Alan Light said. "I went to the lobby and asked to be moved out of that room because it was directly above us."

According to police, the rest of the rooms at the motel are safe to stay in. The level of contamination in the room with the meth lab will determine when officials can reopen that room.