Sunday, Aug. 28, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Police nab 2 in alleged drug dealBy LEE WILLIAMS Two Atlanta men traveled to the Fayetteville Taco Bell Monday, but instead of leaving with a couple of soft tacos, they left in a pair of handcuffs. Hassan Bell, a 17-year-old ward of the state from Stone Mountain, and Michael Chandler, 36, of Atlanta, were detained at the eatery after an encounter with agents from the Fayette County Drug Suppression Task Force. "This was a buy bust investigation where the suspects presented $1,200 worth of suspected crack cocaine," Fayette County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Lt. Belinda McCastle said. "It was an ounce and a half in exchange for $1,200." The men sold the suspected crack cocaine to an undercover agent at 2:50 p.m. When Bell and Chandler realized they sold to an undercover agent, things grew tense, officials said. Chandler was taken into custody at Taco Bell. But Bell darted across the heavily congested intersection on Ga. Highway 85. With agents on his trail and Hawk One helicopter hovering over head, Bell didn't get far. "He was quickly apprehended in the Picadilly parking lot," McCastle said. Things really got serious when agents realized the substance they purchased wasn't the real thing. The men allegedly were peddling fake crack cocaine. Bell and Chandler were taken to the Fayette County Jail for booking. Although the drugs were counterfeit, Bell and Chandler were charged as if the drugs were real since they allegedly tried to pass the substance off as real. Both of the men were charged with the possession, sale, purchase and manufacture of cocaine. Bell additionally was charged with obstruction for trying to elude the agents. Bell and Chandler were being held at the jail pending receipt of a $6,800 bond and a $11,100 bond, respectively. Chandra Foster, who runs the state-licensed foster home where Bell resides in Stone Mountain, said she was frustrated by the ordeal. Although the incident happened around school hours, Foster said Bell was a good kid. "He goes to school," she said. "He does pretty much what he's supposed to do. I had him for almost two years." Foster indicated she believes Chandler took advantage of Bell, who is at an impressionable age, and lured him to commit the alleged act in Fayetteville. |
|
Copyright 2005-Fayette Publishing, Inc. |