Violet McDonald, Special to the News

A Branford couple is incarcerated on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine and cannabis, possession of methamphetamine and aggravated child abuse after local law enforcement authorities stumbled upon their operation Monday afternoon.



James Love, 35, and Jeannie Love, 34, were arrested at their home at 3973 284th St. Monday evening when local law enforcement followed up on a lead from the Levy County Sheriff’s Office.

Live Oak Police Department Capt. Chris Nelson said the Levy County Sheriff’s Office shared information that an individual had purchased a 100-pound tank of anhydrous ammonia, which is a highly dangerous fertilizer if not used correctly and a component used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.



“Whoever they purchased it from, the story they told as to what they were planning to do with it really didn’t make sense,” Nelson said. “Levy County Sheriff’s Office followed them, and when they got here, they called us. We went to the house where the tank was taken and made contact with the people and discovered there was an active lab going on at the time.”



Suwannee County Drug Task Force members, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Drug Enforcement Agency were still processing the scene as of Tuesday.



“It was just some good work on the part of the Levy County Sheriff’s Office that when something suspicious like this came up to have the forethought to follow them and contact us,” Nelson said.



Nelson added the house was not a target, but it was just good investigative skills that brought about the arrests.