Another arrest in Ebro meth case

EBRO - Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Bay County Drug Task Force arrested a man Wednesday in connection to a meth lab operation in the Ebro area.

Washington County Sheriff's Office Spokesperson Andrea Gainey said the arrest was part of a long-term investigation involving multiple suspects, and that investigation was continuing into the case.

According to a news release, recent arrests in the Ebro area involving the manufacture of methamphetamine resulted in warrants being issued for Joseph Preston Haddock. A habitual offender, Haddock has been a target of a long-term investigation by narcotic investigators for the sale and manufacture of meth, the release said.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office located and arrested Haddock in Bay County on charges of selling methamphetamines. Additional charges are pending, the release said.

"We have to give credit to Bay County Drug Task Force for their assistance in apprehending this offender" Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock said. "We have, through agency cooperation and communication, been successful in removing a high level drug dealer from our community."

Gainey said additional charges could be filed against Haddock.

The arrest was part of an investigation that also led to the recent arrests of Bob Morrell, 42, of Ebro and and Patricia Montgomery, 24, of Cottondale. Montgomery is charged with cruelty toward a child that could result in physical or mental injury, a third-degree felony, as well as being recommitted for possession of methamphetamine and possession of controlled substance without a prescription.

Morrell is charged with possession of weapons or ammunition by a convicted felon, cruelty toward a child that could result in physical or mental injury, distribution of marijuana, possession of narcotics equipment and/or use, and possession of listed chemicals for manufacture of a controlled substance.