The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office was able to end a two-month investigation Tuesday with the arrest of Jessie Don Woodhull following a vehicle stop on I-85, just inside Rowan County near the Cabarrus County line.
They were assisted by the Davie County Sheriff’s Office in the investigation, which began in Richmond County.
On Aug. 5, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the NC SBI investigated a mobile methamphetamine lab which had caught fire. Woodhull was burned during the fire and was admitted to a burn center. Woodhull was discharged from the burn center prior to warrants being served and fled the area.
On Aug. 21, investigators with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, the Granite Quarry Police Department and the NC SBI investigated a methamphetamine lab located at 1018 Church St., Faith. During this investigation, investigators arrested Joshua Eran Tarlton, charged with manufacturing methamphetamine and identified Woodhull as a second person involved in manufacturing methamphetamine there.
On Sept. 25, investigators with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office and the NC SBI conducted an undercover operation in which Woodhull sold methamphetamine to an undercover officer. When officers attempted to stop a vehicle Woodhull was leaving in, he escaped on foot and remained on the run until Tuesday.
On Tuesday, investigators with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office learned that Woodhull would be at the Pilot truck stop on Lane Street in Kannapolis. Investigators followed his vehicle onto I-85 and stopped it just inside Rowan County.
Woodhull was arrested and charged with the following crimes in Richmond County: manufacture methamphetamine, conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and two counts of possession of meth precursor chemicals with intent to manufacture methamphetamine.
He was also charged with the following crimes in Rowan County: manufacture methamphetamine, conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, sale of methamphetamine and possession of meth precursor chemicals with intent to manufacture methamphetamine.
Woodhull was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $200,000 secured bond for Richmond County and a $200,000 secured bond for Rowan County, pending a first appearance in court today.