Couple arrested for child abuse, meth trafficking

OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WALA) - The Okaloosa County Multi-Agency Drug Task Force has arrested a Crestview man in connection with a methamphetamine lab discovered October 22  in Crestview. Allen M. Rhinehart is now charged with trafficking in methamphetamine and child abuse.

OCSO patrol deputies said they went to Godfrey Street to serve a felony arrest warrant on Rhinehart. While on scene, they said they detected evidence of a clandestine methamphetamine.

DTF investigators responded and confirmed the presence of the lab and assumed the investigation.

Officials said Rhinehart and his wife Christina Russell were not on scene. However, authorities said they contacted Russell, and she returned to the scene.

Investigators said Russell provided written consent to search her residence, and admitted to the knowledge of methamphetamine being manufactured in the residence, and that two children, ages 2 and 4, had been present in the house during the manufacturing process on several occasions.

Authorities said Russell has purchased ephedrine/pseudoephedrine on multiple occasions and was blocked/prevented on additional purchases. Russell was arrested on Oct. 22, 2012 on charges of trafficking in methamphetamine and child abuse.

On November 1, while at the Okaloosa County jail on other charges, investigators said

Rhinehart consented to an interview with DTF investigators and admitted to manufacturing methamphetamine on multiple occasions and that two children were in the home on several of those occasions.