Katrina Victims Held for Meth

Police find lab operating in evacuees' hotel room

GULF SHORES, Ala. — Two Hurricane Katrina evacuees from Pascagoula were arrested and charged after they were found cooking methamphetamine in a motel room here paid for by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, authorities said.Held on $1 million bond each late Saturday on charges of unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance were Jason Alan Cook, 22, and Jamie Lyn Murphy, 25.Cook also is being held on a $5,000 bond on other drug-related charges; Murphy is being held on $6,000 bond on other drug-related charges, officials at the Baldwin County Jail said Saturday night.Gulf Shores Police narcotics investigator Tommy Green said the man and woman were charged with manufacturing the controlled substance methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.According to Green, Cook was pulled over for a traffic violation Friday morning, and the arresting officer found he was in possession of meth and drug paraphernalia.
Cook led police back to the Phoenix All Suites, where investigators found Murphy and a makeshift meth lab, Green said."It was a very dangerous, volatile situation that could've been tragic if they'd have had a fire or explosion," he said.Murphy, who also is charged with possession of marijuana, had rented the room through a FEMA hurricane displacement program, according to Gulf Shores police.
Police did not know how long the two had been staying at the hotel, Green said.FEMA spokesman Jay Eaker confirmed that Phoenix All Suites billed the agency.