Five people arrested in connection with Rockholds methamphetamine lab

Five people are behind bars in the Whitley County Detention Center after being arrested late Wednesday evening inside a Rockholds methamphetamine lab.

Williamsburg K-9 Officer Brandon Prewitt charged Stephen Rainwater, 22, of Corbin; James Rainwater, 48, of Williamsburg; Thomas Schenck, 27, Justin Dodd, 23, and Timothy W. Rainwater, 43, all of Rockholds; with engaging in organized crime and first-offense manufacture of methamphetamine.

James Rainwater was also charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance.

All five are being held in the Whitley County Detention Center in lieu of $50,000 cash bonds.

About 10:40 p.m. Wednesday, Williamsburg police and Kentucky State Police went to vacant mobile home at 60 Eugene Smith Road to investigate a complaint about a possible methamphetamine lab, Williamsburg Police Chief Wayne Bird wrote in a press release.

When officers arrived, they smelled a strong chemical odor and saw several male subjects in a bedroom, according to the release.

"When the subjects realized the police were outside, they began to scatter throughout the residence, and broke a window in an attempted escape," Bird wrote.

"Upon entry to the home, officers encountered five suspects in an active methamphetamine lab. The suspects were secured and removed from the extremely hazardous environment."

The Laurel County Department of Public Safety and the Rockholds Volunteer Fire Department were contacted and responded to the scene.

Due to the size of the methamphetamine lab, which was in a working stage, officials spent several hours on the scene removing the hazards from the home.

"All five suspects were decontaminated at the scene and taken into custody," Bird wrote.

Prewitt is leading the investigation and was assisted at the scene by Bird, Officer Elijah Hunter, and KSP Troopers Tony Dingess and Les Moses.