Two have been arrested on meth charges in East Ridge.
East Ridge Police assisted probation officers on Monday around 8:45 a.m. at 2002 McBrien Road in East Ridge.
Probation officers wished to conduct a search of the home and interview the probationer. Police found multiple parties in the residence.
Michael Ford, using the alias John Smith, was found hiding in a small closet. Police found a loaded Kel-Tec .380 handgun and a bag of methamphetamine in a laundry basket after removing Ford from the closet.
Several backpacks were also in bedroom in which Ford was found.
Police asked the occupants of the home if the bags belonged to them. No one claimed ownership.
The bags were searched pursuant to the signed consent document obtained by police after initially entering with the probation officers. A camouflage backpack was found to contain a magnetized box and a plastic tote.
The containers had 17 separate bags of methamphetamine. The total weight from the two containers was approximately eight ounces. The packaging had the same imprint as the bag found in the closet with Michael Ford.
The camouflage backpack also had 29.8 grams of marijuana, $29, paraphernalia, ammunition and 22 dosage units of SCH IV Alprazolam. Police located an active cell phone in the bag. One "tile" for Facebook showed a picture appearing to be Michael Ford.
A second backpack from the same room contained mail addressed to Michael Ford. A small package of methamphetamine was found concealed in a cigarette box inside the backpack.
Officers photographed the narcotics and evidence. The seized methamphetamine was turned over to DEA agents for lab analysis. Officers interviewed the occupants of the home. $659 was seized from Ford's person. The cash was in small denomination bills.
Michael Shawn Ford, 34, was charged with possession of Schedule II (Meth.) resale, possession of a firearm, possession of Schedule IV, and criminal impersonation.
Joshua P. Ireland, 39, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.