DURANT — Charges were filed Thursday afternoon against a former law enforcement officer and his girlfriend accused of manufacturing methamphetamine at a residence in the Bennington area.

Michael Shane Burch, 34, was charged with manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in commission of a felony. Jessica Kay Saddler, 21, identified as his girlfriend, was charged with endeavoring to manufacture methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in commission of a felony.

Authorities said Burch is a former police officer and, according to court records, he served with the Bennington Police Department in the late 1990s.

Burch and Saddler were arrested Wednesday afternoon after Bryan County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force Agent Wayne Stanley and sheriff’s deputies went to a residence near Bennington to investigate a tip that Burch was making methamphetamine.

According to an affidavit by District Attorney’s Drug Task Force Agent Wayne Stanley, Deputy Brian Carr encountered Burch walking out of a barn carrying a bag. Stanley noticed an odor associated with manufacturing methamphetamine and observed items in the bag used to make the drug.

Burch, the affidavit states, said he knew there was a methamphetamine lab in the bag and he saw police coming, so he tried to get rid of it.

He said he had been living inside a van in the barn for three days with Saddler, his girlfriend, according to the affidavit. Authorities searched the van and found items associated with drug use and manufacture, including scales, straws and lithium batteries.

Officers also found two .22-caliber firearms and more items associated with methamphetamine manufacture inside the barn, the affidavit states.

Deputies detained Saddler, who admitted to buying pseudoephedrine pills for Burch and that she was aware the pills would be used to make methamphetamine, according to authorities.

Burch and Saddler were booked into the Bryan County Jail and had an initial court appearance Thursday.

In other drug arrests, Jason Troy Palmer, 21, was charged Thursday with marijuana cultivation following a Wednesday investigation by the drug task force and the sheriff’s office.

Agent Stanley and Deputy Kevin Nave went to a home south of Bokchito, where they saw a man, later identified as Palmer, behind a van. Looking through binoculars, Stanley saw him removing marijuana from a stalk and putting it into a baggie, according to the affidavit.

As the officers approached, they observed several stalks of marijuana in the trunk, the affidavit states.

Palmer was arrested and declined to speak to Stanley. He was booked into jail.