An Alabama prison warden and his wife are behind bars after being arrested in north Alabama on drug charges.

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

Chad Crabtree is the warden at Limestone Correctional Facility in Harvest. He took over that role in 2022, following the retirement of the previous warden. He has been with the ADOC for more than 20 years.

Search warrants and arrest warrants were carried out Friday morning at the Crabtree home. Those involved included the Alabama Department of Corrections Law Enforcement Services Division, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s SWAT team, and Limestone County Sheriff’s Office.

Both were taken into custody without incident and transported to the Limestone County Jail, said Alabama Department of Corrections spokeswoman Kelly Betts.

Both Chad Crabtree and Melissa Crabtree are charged 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 pending further personnel action, Betts said.

LESD agents also executed a search warrant for Chad Crabtree’s office at Limestone. The LESD investigation is ongoing and further charges may be pending.

Limestone County jail records show five warrants for Chad Crabtree issued by the sheriff’s office. Melissa Crabtree is held on five charges issued by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.