Deputies with the Itawamba County Sheriff's Department have arrested three individuals after discovering a meth lab during an unrelated search.

Steven Vick, 41, of 89 Petty Road, Golden, in the Banner community; Rodney Rogers, 38, of 112 County Road 14, Belmont; and Kayla Rogers, 18, of 75 Deck Taylor Road, Fulton, were all arrested on Dec. 22 and charged in connection with various drug offenses.

Vick and Rodney Rogers were both charged with the manufacture of methamphetamine and were issued a bond by Justice Court Judge Gerald Wallace in the amount of $10,000 each. Kayla Rogers was charged with possession of methamphetamine and in her initial appearance was issued a bond in the amount of $5,000.

All three have been released on bond.

Deputies with the Itawamba County Sheriff's Department and agents with the North Mississippi Narcotics Unit arrested the three suspects while searching Vick's property for a stolen gun allegedly in his possession. Vick reportedly gave officials permission to search the residence, whereupon they found a "shake and bake" meth lab set up in one of the bedrooms.

"I guess he just wasn't thinking when he gave us permission to search the house," said Sheriff Chris Dickinson of Vick. "Well, that would be an understatement ... We were really surprised to find that meth lab while searching for a weapon in a completely unrelated case."

The "shake and bake" method of cooking meth -- which involves placing all of the ingredients in one container, such as a coke or juice bottle, and turned upside down to cause a chemical reaction -- is both one of the most popular and dangerous methods for producing the drug. The method yields a high-risk for explosion but also allows the producer to dispose of the lab quickly and easily.

"We tend to find a lot of the remnants of these labs out on the sides of the road in ditches," Dickinson said. "They're often referred to as 'mobile' labs since it's easy to store and move in the back of a car or other vehicle."

According to Dickinson, the production, sale and usage of crystal methamphetamine continues to be some of the most preponderant of problems facing Itawamba County and rural areas in general.

"We're making a dent in the fight against drugs, but it literally is a 24/7 battle," Dickinson said. "We just have to keep up the fight in order to win the war."

Adam Armour can be reached at 862-3141 or by e-mailing adam.armour@itawamba360.com.