Alabama Prison Warden Chadwick Ray Crabtree and Wife Melissa Kay Crabtree, Arrested on Drug Charges

In north Alabama, an Alabama prison warden and his wife have been arrested on drug charges and are currently in custody.

Chadwick Ray Crabtree, aged 45, and Melissa Kay Crabtree, aged 55, were both booked into the Limestone County Jail Friday morning, according to jail records.

Chad Crabtree currently serves as the warden at Limestone Correctional Facility in Harvest, assuming the position in 2022 after the retirement of the former warden.

With over 20 years of service with the ADOC, he has a substantial tenure.

Search and arrest warrants were executed at the Crabtree residence on Friday morning, involving personnel from the Alabama Department of Corrections Law Enforcement Services Division, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s SWAT team, and the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office.

Both Chad Crabtree and Melissa Crabtree were apprehended without any issues and conveyed to the Limestone County Jail, as stated by Alabama Department of Corrections spokeswoman Kelly Betts.

They both face charges including second-degree possession of marijuana, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, manufacturing of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Chad Crabtree has been placed on mandatory leave without pay while further personnel measures are taken, Betts added.

LESD agents additionally conducted a search warrant for Chad Crabtree’s office at Limestone. The ongoing LESD investigation suggests that further charges may be forthcoming.

Limestone County jail records indicate five warrants issued for Chad Crabtree by the sheriff’s office.

Melissa Crabtree faces five charges issued by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.