An Alabama couple was taken to jail Friday after authorities say they were caught having sex - in the police department parking lot.

Brookside Police Department’s Communications Center spotted the couple about 3:30 p.m. on the department’s security cameras. The pair was in a vehicle parked just outside so officers didn’t have far to go when they responded to the scene.

Chief MIke Jones said they identified the occupants of the vehicle as Paula Garner and James Sanders, both of Center Point.

As it turns out, Garner was scheduled for court-ordered community service Friday stemming from an earlier criminal case. Sanders was her ride there.

When officers approached the vehicle, they noticed a strong odor of marijuana. The department’s K9 was deployed and positively alerted to the presence of illegal substances inside.

Jones said authorities found crystal methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a gun inside the vehicle. Garner and Sanders both were charged with indecent exposure, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Additionally, Sanders was charged with being in possession of a firearm.

The vehicle was impounded, and both suspects were walked to the city jail. “The officers,’’ Jones posted on Facebook, “did a bang-up job on this case.”