A search for a Brewton man wanted on felony domestic violence charges ended Friday, but not before leading police to one of the largest clandestine methamphetamine operations seen in the county.
Chief Deputy Mike Lambert with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Monday Eric Dean Vickers, 30, was sought by the U.S. Marshal’s Violent Fugitive Task Force on a domestic violence/strangulation warrant from the Flomaton Police Department.
Vickers fled from deputies not once but twice in the days preceding his arrest at a home on Jack Springs Road in Atmore, Lambert said.
“Both times, Vickers was driving very recklessly and for the safety of the officer involved and the community, the pursuits were called off,” Lambert said. “On Tuesday evening, we got word that was a home on Stanley Road.”
While deputies did not find Vickers at the home, they did find 24 “confirmed one pot cooks,” he said.
“They also found numerous items consistent with a clandestine manufacturing of crystal meth at the home of Melissa Wells,” Lambert said.
Wells, 29, is charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. She is currently being held in the Escambia County Detention Center on a $100,000 bond.
Lambert said the Marshal’s task force continued their search for Vickers, who was ultimately located inside the bedroom of a Jack Springs Road residence just after 3:30 p.m. Friday.
Drug task force agents, Atmore Police Department officers, U.S. Marshals and members of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 team surrounded the residence.
After searching Vickers’ room, officers found six grams of marijuana, approximate 1 ½ grams of methamphetamine, several pseudoephedrine pills, two cans of spray paint and a bottle of lye. The pills, spray paint and lye can be used to manufacture meth, DTF agent Scott Walden said.
Vickers also possessed three meth pipes at the time of his arrest, Walden said. Vickers admitted to owning all the drug-related items.
“He didn’t put up a fight once we placed him in custody,” Walden said.
Vickers was booked into the county detention center and held on an assortment of charges including attempting to elude and criminal mischief. He is awaiting bond setting.