UPDATED with more information throughout.

The recovery of a man’s stolen vehicle led to nine people getting busted for drugs Monday in Walker County.

Finding the stolen vehicle uncovered a “drug house,” Walker County sheriff Steve Wilson said.

“As a result of (deputy Kevin) Denny’s hard work, the theft led to drugs being found and other arrests being made,” Wilson said.

The drug house had eight occupants, plus a juvenile, a 16-year-old runaway from Lookout Valley, Tenn.

The Walker County Sheriff’s Office worked with the Lookout Mountain Drug Task Force as the vehicle theft became a drug seizure, leading to at least one felony count for all nine individuals.

The 16-year-old faces a felony drug possession charge.

Adults arrested were:

· Eric Wade Smith, 29, of Chattanooga, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana with intent, theft by taking motor vehicle, giving false name or address to law enforcement officer.

· Edward Curtis Murphy, 38, of LaFayette, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana with intent, giving false name or address to law enforcement officer, interference with government property.

· James Howard Franklin, 57, of LaFayette, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana with intent.

· Joseph Shane Franklin, 31, of Dalton, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana with intent.

· Heather Nicole Young, 25, of Chattanooga, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana with intent.

· Valerie Rose Defur, 27, of Flintstone, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana with intent, manufacturing marijuana.

· Amy Brooke Pearson, 25, of Fort Oglethorpe, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana.

· Velisha Kirby, 31, of Rossville, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana with intent.

According to Walker County Sheriff’s Office reports:

On May 24, the Flintstone man left his 2003 Pontiac Sunfire running in the parking lot as he used the ATM at the Flintstone Golden Gallon. He was in the store for only a minute when a brown Buick pulled into the lot. The Buick’s passenger got out and stole the vehicle.

An eyewitness described the two as “white males in their late twenties,” according to the report.

The car owner searched for his vehicle and found it on May 28 at 3846 Happy Valley Road, a mile from where it was stolen.

Deputy Denny interviewed the resident, Valerie Rose Defur. She claimed not to know who was driving the car.

Defur, who also claimed to not know who was in the residence, allowed Denny inside, where Denny found several people.

The deputy questioned Eric Wade Smith in a bedroom and noticed a black case with a spoon containing a white residue, which later tested positive for methamphetamine.

Lookout Mountain Drug Task Force agent Keith Brown arrived on the scene and, along with Denny, began to identify the eight adults. Smith gave a false name of Jason Russell.

Denny noticed several syringes in the living room, along with a black safe on the couch.

A large amount of drug paraphernalia was found, in addition to at least two marijuana pipes, seven spoons with drug residue and 21 syringes. One of the spoons later tested positive for methamphetamine.

Deputies also found 15 small bags, each containing either white crystal or green leafy substances.

As deputies removed all of the suspects they noticed a pot containing three marijuana plants by the back door.

He found the juvenile hiding under a bed. A spoon with white residue and a syringe were found under the bed.

Initially none of the eight adults admitted to stealing the car or owning the drugs found throughout the residence.

The vehicle was turned over to the owner at the scene.