Jessie Dewayne Macon

A moonshine still was recovered last week after its alleged owner fled the scene as a warrant was being served.

“I had received a tip earlier that day that there was a possible still,” St. Clair Sheriff’s Investigator Cary Ward said. Ward did some checking into the person residing at the residence, 30-year-old Michael Wayne Carroll of Pell City, and found he had warrants.

So sheriff’s deputies went to issue them to Mr. Carroll. “As we pulled up in the driveway, he fled out into the woods,” Ward said.

He was later captured and is being held without bond.

The sheriff’s deputies then secured the mobile home and at that point found 41-year-old Jessie Dewayne Macon, also of Pell City, hiding in the back bedroom, Ward said.

The Alabama Beverage Control Board was contacted. An agent went to the scene and verified the still was used for making moonshine.

The ABC Board took the still and the deputies at the scene destroyed five gallons of moonshine and 15 gallons of corn mash that was being prepared for another brew.

The still was determined to be capable of producing five gallons on a single run.

Ward said it appeared the still had been used several times before and posed a fire and health hazard.

Both men will be charged with possession of a still in connection with this event. The charge is a class C felony. Carroll is also charged with reckless endangerment.

Other items were found at the scene, which may be used in a further drug-related case, Ward said.