A Sweetwater area man was arrested Wednesday after a suspected methamphetamine lab near three children were found in his house.

Monroe County Sheriff's Detective Ben Baker said he and other officers arrived at the home of Tony Eugene Woodby on Raby Road after receiving a complaint of possible drug activity in the house.

Woodby told the officers they could look around the house and Baker said he smelled chemicals near a closet bedroom. Baker and Detective Doug Brannon found a trunk in the closet and Woodby said the rest of the lab was in the corner of the closet.

As officers watched, Woodby reached into the closet and pulled out a backpack that contained several needles, tubing, ammonium nitrate and other items that can be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Woodby told Baker his wife had nothing to do with the lab. Baker said three of Woodby's four children were in the house at the time.

Woodby is charged with initiating the process to manufacture methamphetamine.