Drug busts net three

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Police Department Street Crimes Unit arrested three suspected drug dealers while serving a pair of search warrants last weekend.

Because one of the busts occurred about 50 feet from a church, those defendants incurred additional charges.

Melvin L. Williams, 27, of Laurel Hill was arrested Feb. 22 during a “controlled purchase of cocaine from the defendant.” The arrest occurred following the execution of a search warrant at an Amellia Place residence in Crestview.

“A recorded phone call was made from a confidential informant to the defendant for a pre-determined amount of cocaine,” the arrest report stated. “A short time later the defendant arrived at the residence and was taken into custody.”

Police recovered from Williams nine bags of cocaine packed for distribution in 4.3-gram packets, one 3-gram bag of marijuana and a smaller bag containing 12 crack cocaine rocks. Chemical field tests confirmed the type of drugs.

Williams was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana.

The following night, the CPD Street Crimes Unit served a search warrant at a West Griffith Avenue residence, arresting Lamar McTear, 47, of Milligan, and Willie James Peoples, 33, of Crestview.

Upon the police’s arrival, Peoples was seen sitting on the hood of a car parked in the yard of the home, which is his residence.

As officers detained him, Peoples threw away a cigarette pack, which upon examination was found to contain “a small amount of crack base cocaine,” according to the arrest report.

“Found on the hood of the vehicle … was one razor blade covered in cocaine residue,” the report stated. “The hood of the vehicle showed scratch marks covered in cocaine residue.”

McTear, by his own admission, said “he was in the process of ‘smoking crack’ while seated in the back seat of the car,” the arrest report said. “He further stated that once he observed police presence, he tried to hide the pipe by shoving it under the seat cushion.”

A search of the car turned up a metal pipe with residue that tested positive for cocaine.

McTear and Peoples were both arrested on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a place of worship, the James Street Church of Christ on West Griffith Avenue.