Police arrest Manchester man for mobile meth lab at Corbin Kroger

A Manchester man is in custody today after police caught him with a mobile meth lab in his vehicle at a Kroger store in Corbin, and authorities say he is likely connected to another man, now also in custody, who led them on a high-speed chase Wednesday night.

Johnny D. Marcum, 48, is charged with shoplifting and possession of meth precursors — the ingredients needed to make methamphetamine. Authorities were called to the Kroger store in the Corbin Station Shopping Center Thursday morning to question a man employees believe was shoplifting. When confronted by Corbin Police Officer Steve Meadors, Marcum was found with several unpaid for items in his possession — shoe insoles, some dog treats, etc. He also had several blister packs of Sudafed cold medicine on him; one of the principal components of methamphetamine.

"He claimed he was going to pay for the stuff," said Meadors. "I found a Wal-Mart receipt on him from 6:30 this morning where he bought some other items like starter fluid."

Officers immediately went to search Marcum’s vehicle — a gold Pontiac Bonneville. Inside they saw a bag with drain cleaner sticking out. Inside were many of the components needed to make meth: plastic tubing, coffee filters, and other items. The "one-step" meth lab, as police described it, was inactive at the time.

Corbin Police Officer Rob Jones said the vehicle was very familiar to police.

"The funny thing is we got in pursuit of a car last night that is owned by the same woman who owns this vehicle," Jones said.

Wednesday evening, authorities got in a high-speed pursuit with a car that the driver, believed to be Oba Layton Champlin, 44, of Lily, ditched during the pursuit. He got away from officers on foot in southern Laurel County but was captured Thursday afternoon. The car, a Pontiac Grand Prix, was registered to the same woman believed to be the owner of the vehicle searched by police during the bust at Kroger. Police say the woman is Champlin’s mother.

Both cars have been seized by authorities.

Arrest warrants were issued for Champlin for fleeing and evading police, and for manufacturing methamphetamine shortly after Wednesday’s chase. He was captured Thursday just after noon. Authorities say they found meth in the vehicle he left behind. He has been charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, fleeing and evading police and first-degree wanton endangerment.