By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
An Atmore man and woman were arrested on felony drug charges last Thursday, August 5, after police responded to reports of an ongoing argument in the yard of an East Horner Street residence.
The verbal combatants — Dewitt Champ Carter, 25, of Atmore, and Anna Leigh Bowman, 20, of Bay Minette — were arrested after police spotted unspecified quantities of Spice and methamphetamine in the house the two share.
Carter is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and third-degree domestic violence (menacing). Bowman is charged with one count each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks reported that patrol officers were dispatched to the residence in reference to reports that a man and woman were arguing loudly in the front yard of the property. The couple reportedly hustled inside when police showed up, and officers at first thought they had barricaded themselves in the house.
“It all started out as a ‘domestic welfare check,’ with a man and woman arguing,” Brooks said. “When officers got there, the man and woman went inside and were presumed to be barricaded in.”
Police surrounded the house and, after several times ordering the two to come out, they did so.
“They were given several verbal commands to come out, and finally they did,” said Brooks. “We wanted to make sure (the woman) was OK.”
An APD narcotics investigator, one of several officers to respond, spotted unspecified quantities of the controlled substances, then conducted a search of the house.
A small, locked safe was discovered. At the request of police, city firefighter Jesse Boone used a fire axe to break open the safe so police could see if more drugs might be locked inside.
“There was nothing in the safe,” Brooks said.
According to the Escambia County Detention Center website, Carter remained in the facility late Monday, under $50,000 bond. Bowman was released August 7 after a $5,000 bond was posted on her behalf.