By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
A Pensacola man was arrested on felony marijuana possession charges and was shot at after he chased the customers who used fake money to pay him for an unspecified quantity of pot.
According to Atmore Police Department reports, officers were sent to the area around Alabama 21 and Poarch Road after dispatchers received a report of shots fired.
While city lawmen were searching the area, an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy spotted in a nearby parking lot one of the vehicles a witness had described as being involved in the incident.
When the deputy approached the vehicle, its driver — later identified as Charles Robinson, 26 – ran from him but was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit.
Officers who interviewed Robinson were able to determine through statements and recovered evidence that the Pensacola man had attempted to sell the illicit weed to suspects in a second vehicle, who attempted to pay Robinson with currency stamped with “Motion Picture Only” stamped on it.
When the second vehicle sped away, the alleged pot dealer began pursuing it. During the chase, one of the occupants of the second vehicle shot at Robinson, striking his vehicle at least one time.
Robinson was taken into custody and is charged with one count each of first-degree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. The occupants of the second vehicle were not located.
A police spokesman said the incident is still under investigation, and additional charges are forthcoming.
Robinson remained in the county jail early Tuesday, awaiting a bond hearing.