A call to police about stolen diesel fuel led to the discovery of a methamphetamine lab and the arrest of a Rockmart man Monday.

Bruce Privett of Vinson Mountain Road was arrested and faces a charge of theft by taking, according to a Polk County Police Department report. However, reports indicate he will also face drug charges once the Polk County Drug Task Force completes its investigation.

The investigation onto Privett’s property in the 410 Vinson Mountain Road area began when the owner of a logging company called police to report a diesel fuel theft.

Business owner Marty Evans said his crews arrived around 7 a.m. Monday and found all of their equipment was dry of fuel. Evans pointed out that tractor tire marks, along with several displaced logs, led to Privett’s property and a red tractor next door.

Evans said several logs, some radios, tools and chains were also missing. Stolen items and gas were valued at approximately $1,800, according to reports.

Police spent about 20 minutes searching for Privett, reports said. He eventually came out and told them his friend had borrowed his tractor and took the logs. Privett said he would take responsibility for that, but didn’t know about the other missing items.

Privett agreed to a search of the property for the other stolen items and unlocked one padlocked door, but reports said he stalled on opening a second padlocked building. Reports said an officer stepped up to open the building with Privett’s key.

That’s when officers said they discovered a suspected methamphetamine lab including two jars of a yellow liquid, a funnel, a coffee pot, a possible solvent bottle and a mason jar.

The drug task force was called in and the scene was turned over to them. Reports state it has been determined that Privett had been running a drug lab for about a year and a half.

Most of the items, around $993 in value, were found on the property and returned to Evans. The only items not found on Privett’s property were a CB radio, a Caterpillar radio from a bulldozer, and about $400 in fuel.