Teacher charged with manufacturing meth

A search warrant served by Lee County sheriff’s deputies at the Lee County residence of Elizabeth Grace Brooks, 43, Friday evening, netted drug paraphernalia with methamphetamine residue, according to a release from the Sheriff’s Office. Brooks was taken into custody by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and charged with one count of unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance (meth) in the first degree and a count of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

By: Donathan Prater | Opelika-Auburn News
Published: March 02, 2008

A Phenix City elementary school teacher has been arrested on drug charges.

Brooks was taken into custody by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and charged with one count of unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance (meth) in the first degree and a count of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

The investigation that led to Brooks’ arrest had been going on for approximately two years, according to Lee County Sheriff’s Capt. Van Jackson.

“This isn’t typical in what we see as far as the timetable for a drug investigation to take place,” Jackson said. “However, with drug cases, the court requires extensive evidence to prove that the individual’s involvement with drugs is criminal.”

Among the items that sheriff’s office personnel found at Brooks’ residence were several drug smoking devices, glassware, plastic tubing, coffee filters and pseudoephedrine, according to the release.

During the course of law enforcement’s investigation, it was discovered that Brooks obtained other items associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine via the Internet - one of the patterns that Jackson says peaked postal worker’s interest.

“Among other technological methods at our disposal, the postal service trains its employees to identify suspicious packages,” Jackson said.

Saturday, Phenix City Schools Superintendent Larry DiChiara was still getting information about the incident.

“I don’t have all the details at this time, but if this is in fact true, this deeply saddens me,” DiChiara said.

“If Brooks has a problem she should seek help and our school system will be supportive of her,” said DiChiara, who says Brooks’ employment status will be determined after the legal process has run its course.