Two men were arrested in a Wal-Mart parking lot last night and charged with possession and manufacture of methamphetamine, Orange County Sheriff’s deputies said. One of the men was also charged with resisting arrest without violence.
Deputies initially responded to a call from a witness who believed that a man was breaking into a Gold 1997 Nissan Maxima at the Wal-Mart parking lot at 11250 East Colonial on January 9th around 11:00 PM. Upon their arrival, deputies immediately saw a vehicle matching the Maxima’s description leaving the store’s parking lot.
When deputies attempted to stop the car it returned to the store parking lot and stopped. After stopping the passenger, Wesley D. Hatchel, 30 years, exited the car and walked to the back of the vehicle. As deputies approached to secure him he ran from the scene of the traffic stop. The driver, Josh Moore, 29 years, was secured without incident at the scene of the stop.
After a brief foot pursuit suspect Hatchel was secured without further incident. After securing the suspect he was searched. During the search deputies recovered drug paraphernalia and approximately two grams methamphetamine. While being searched suspect Hatchel spontaneously stated that there was a meth lab in Moore’s vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle, Moore, was secured during the attempt to take his associate into custody. During questioning suspect Moore admitted that he was driving on an expired Tennessee driver’s license and gave his consent for a search of his car.
The search revealed several items that are commonly used to manufacture methamphetamine. Because of the inherent danger associated with some of the items discovered in the car, the Sheriff’s Office Clandestine Lab Response Team was dispatched to the scene to recover and safely remove the chemicals from the suspect’s vehicle.
Both suspects were arrested and transported to the Orange County Jail.
Moore has been charged with attempt to manufacture methamphetamine and driving on a suspended driver’s license.
Hatchel has been charged with possession of methamphetamine, resisting arrest without violence, and attempt to manufacture methamphetamine.
