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TAHLEQUAH, OK - Cherokee Nation Marshal Service assisted Mayes County Sheriff's Department in exposing a meth lab and detaining three suspects.

Mayes County officials began investigating the property a few weeks ago. They sent drug investigators to purchase narcotics on several occasions. Once they gathered sufficient information, they initiated the bust with the Marshal Service Special Operations Team.

The Cherokee Nation Marshal Service Special Operations Team arrived on the property around 5:00 a.m. to survey the premises. Once the location was secured and under control by the Marshals, Mayes Country Sheriff's office entered the property with a warrant and arrested two individuals. A third suspect was arrested outside of the home. The third suspect attempted to flea the area, but was detained by officials. He had firearms and drug paraphernalia in his possession at the time.

Those arrested are Russell Rowland, Earl Chaudoin, and James Morrison. Rowland is being held on $5000 bond and is charged with possession of a loaded firearm in commission of a felony, possession of paraphernalia, attempting to elude, and possession of controlled dangerous substances.

Chaudoin and Morrison are being held on $150,000 bond and are charged with manufacturing controlled dangerous substances, possession of precursor, possession of controlled dangerous substances, possession of a weapon in commission of a felony, unlawful possession of a police scanner and possession of paraphernalia

Law enforcement officers seized firearms, knives, swords, the contents of a meth lab, and stolen property from the residence. Federal charges will be filed against all suspects.

"Those Marshals are great too, they've been a tremendous help to us," said Carol Patton Undersheriff for Mayes County, "I don't know how we got by without them."

The Cherokee Nation Marshals are able to assist local law enforcement through the cross-deputization agreement with Mayes County. The Special Operations Team trains four times per month on these types of maneuvers. They have lots of equipment, assets and manpower that many local law enforcement agencies alone do not have.

"We could not have done it without them [Cherokee Nation Marshals], it would have been a lot harder to get," said Charles Smallwood, Drug Investigator for Mayes County Sheriff's Department.