The Granite Quarry-Faith Joint Police Authority have charged two Granite Quarry men with having a meth lab following a yearlong investigation.

According to Investigator Todd Taylor, beginning in January 2014 a one-pot methamphetamine lab was discovered on the property of 117 North Oak St.,Granite Quarry, by a resident of the property. The resident reported the findings to law enforcement and the lab was removed.

The men were discovered Jan. 30, 2015 with the chemicals and other items to manufacture methamphetamine. Officials arrested William Dean Honbarrier, 27, of 117 N. Oak Street, Granite Quarry and Wesley James Morton, 25, of 817 N. Salisbury Ave., Granite Quarry.

Honbarrier and Morton were charged with a variety of charges including the manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, trafficking in methamphetamine, multiple charges of possession of methamphetamine precursors, possession of drug paraphernalia, and manufacturing a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school.

Honbarrier was additionally charged with possession of schedule II substances, which included Oxycodone Hydrochloride and Fentanyl.

Granite Quarry officials they were aided by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit, the SBI Clandestine Laboratory Response Team, the Rowan County Emergency Medical Services, and the Granite Quarry Fire Department in order to remove the meth lab.

Investigator Taylor said an initial arrest was made in this case but the investigation remained ongoing.  Granite Quarry-Faith Joint Police Authority Investigator Todd Taylor placed a watch on several suspects related the North Oak Street location using the National Precursor Log Exchange, which tracks over-the-counter sales of cold and allergy medication.

In January 2015, Investigator Taylor began receiving notifications from the National Precursor Log Exchange showing increased purchases of over-the-counter cold medication by the suspects.  Taylor and Granite Quarry-Faith Officer R.C. Tester used security camera footage to observe the suspects buying over-the-counter medication and the precursor materials needed to manufacture methamphetamine at various stores in the Salisbury area.

On January 30, 2015, Granite Quarry-Faith Joint Police Authority Officers served a search warrant at 117 North Oak St. regarding the manufacture of meth and were assisted by personnel from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit, Salisbury Police Department, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Clandestine Laboratory Response Team.

While serving the search warrant, officers discovered a one pot meth lab in a garage/apartment on the property along with 100 milliliters of meth oil and precursor materials used in the manufacturing of meth scattered across the property.

One of the suspects was found in the apartment area with a hypodermic needle in hand.  During the search, officers found filters, hydrochloric acid, lithium, ammonium nitrate, and drug paraphernalia, a press release said.

The meth lab was close to Granite Quarry Elementary School so officials place the school on lockdown as a precaution and to ensure the safety of the students and staff during the suspect apprehension and subsequent breakdown/processing of the lab, Taylor said.

Sgt. Robert Price, of the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office coordinated the lockdown, remained on the scene of the school throughout the incident, and remained in close contact with the investigators during the incident. Price coordinates the sheriff’s office school resource officer unit.

Members of the Granite Quarry Fire Department and Rowan County Emergency Medical Services also assisted personnel during the service of the search warrant and processing of the lab.

Morton is currently being held in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $25,000 secured bond and Honbarrier is being held in the county jail under a $35,000 secured bond.

The investigation is still on going to identify additional individuals who may have knowledge of the incident.  Anyone who may have information related to this investigation is urged to contact Investigator R.T. Taylor of the Granite Quarry-Faith Joint Police Authority at 704-279-2952.