Outstanding warrant leads to meth arrest

Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office (SRSO) reports two brothers were arrested Thursday and a Milton woman at Gordon Lane Road for methamphetamine production. SRSO reports Rufus John Hardy, 47, Holt, Randall Earl Hardy, 34, Milton, and Amber Denise Copeland, 27, Milton were at the location on Gordon Land Road together. Rufus Hardy had an outstanding arrest warrant from 2012 and reports said deputies were told he was at his brother’s trailer cooking methamphetamine. Reports said he was exiting the trailer when he was arrested and was found with a small quantity of marijuana and rolling papers on his person. During this process, reports said a gas generator was on a burn pile behind the trailer, which is a component involved in production of methamphetamine. Randall Hardy, a registered sex offender, told deputies they could search his property. Reports said after a check of the property indicated the production of methamphetamine had occurred within the confines of the home including discarded gas generators, peeled batteries, and bottles of chemicals commonly used in making the drug. Firearms and ammunition were also found on the property. Randall Hardy was charged with possession of a weapon and or ammunition by a convicted felon, two counts of drugs-possession, drug equipment possess, and synthetic narcotic possession. He is being held at the Santa Rosa County Jail with $113,500 bond.

Copeland was arrested with three counts of drug-possession, synthetic narcotic possession, and drug equipment possession. She is being held at the Santa Rosa County Jail on $106,000 bond. Rufus Hardy was charged with probation violation, possession of a weapon/ammunition by a convicted felon, marijuana possession, and drug-equipment possession.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Outstanding warrant leads to meth arrest