Three suspected methamphetamine cooks were charged in connection with manufacturing and possessing the drug in St. Clair County.

The three people were arrested Monday by members of the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department Drug Tactical Unit and the Cahokia Police Department after officers responded to a tip about a possible meth lab at 103 Edwards St. in Cahokia, according to St. Clair County Sheriff's Lt. Kurt Eversman.

On Wednesday, the St. Clair County State's Attorney charged all three:

* Raymond E. McCraw III, 38, of 103 Edwards St., was charged with aggravated participation in meth manufacturing and the unlawful possession of meth. His bail was set at $250,000 and he remains in custody.

* Ashley K. Poppe, 22, of 64 Circle Creek in Cahokia, was charged with aggravated participation in meth manufacturing and the unlawful possession of meth. Her bail was set at $75,000 and she remains in custody.

* Jarrod Grimes, 26, of 1848 Ziebold Road in Valmeyer, was charged with aggravated participation in meth manufacturing. His bail was set at $50,000 and he remains in police custody.

Police arrived at the home around 3 p.m. Monday and talked to the homeowner about the complaint of meth manufacturing. The homeowner told police there were other people living in the home, as well, and those people had just left the residence in a red Oldsmobile Alero. Investigators searched the home and found several items commonly used in manufacturing meth. When investigators searched a creek near the home, several burn piles containing additional evidence of items commonly used to cook methamphetamine were found. Members of the Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Team were called in to safely clean up and remove the meth lab.

As investigators searched the home and the property, the red Oldsmobile Alero pulled back up to the residence and when the occupants saw police, they immediately left. Officers were able to stop the vehicle and when it was searched, more items related to meth manufacturing were found, including Sudafed pills, lithium batteries and plastic tubing.

The charge of participation in meth manufacturing was bumped up to an aggravated felony due to the presence of children in the home on Edwards Street, Eversman said.

The occupants of the car, McCraw, Poppe and Grimes, were arrested without incident.

The investigation into the meth lab continues and charges are possible against additional individuals, Eversman said.