Officers from the Cedartown Police Department discovered an active methamphetamine lab at the Circle A Motel, 816 North Main St., on Friday afternoon, Sept. 4.

The investigation is still ongoing, but what is known is that two Cedartown residents are in custody and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine. Jimmy Cotton, of a Lee Street address, and Jennifer Parham, of a Clyde Drive address, were decontaminated at the scene before being transported to the Polk County Jail. Ages for the two arrested were not immediately available.

Cedartown Police Assistant Chief Jamie Newsome said that with the ongoing investigation there may be more charges pending.

According to Newsome, officer Jason O’Neal with the Cedartown Police Department received a tip from a citizen regarding someone stealing checks from her. The citizen gave Officer O’Neal information about who stole the checks and where that suspect was at that time.

Officer O’Neal followed up on the tip by proceeding to the Circle A Motel where he asked the manager if the suspect in question was staying there.

The manager replied that the suspect, later identified as Cotton, was checked into room 6.

When the occupants of room 6 opened the door, O’Neal detected a strong chemical smell and observed Cotton and Parham trying to hide various items.

Newsome confirmed that Cotton and Parham were caught in the active stage of cooking meth.

Members of the Cedartown Police Department, as well as the Cedartown Fire Department were called in to shut down the parking lot of the hotel until they could safely remove the meth lab.

The owner of the motel said that they had only checked into the room three hours prior to the police arriving.