Agencies continue to fight substance use
By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
A recent spate of felony drug arrests continued over the past week, as Atmore police arrested a Flomaton man, Bay Minette police arrested an Atmore man, and state drug agents arrested another Atmore man, all on felony possession of illicit substances.
Charges against Micheal Darnell Pleasant, 42, came January 12 after a patrol officer spotted a person riding in a car along Alabama 21 who was the subject of outstanding warrants from the county sheriff’s office.
“The officer was on patrol on Alabama 21, near Woods Road, and a gold Hyundai was headed south on 21,” said Police Chief Chuck Brooks. “The officer recognized one of the occupants who was wanted on felony warrants by the sheriff’s office. A traffic stop was conducted.”
A small tin box was discovered, inside which was a “white, crystal-like substance” that field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Police also found a set of digital scales, three torch lighters and “numerous” plastic baggies.
Pleasant is charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Region A Drug Task Force arrested Stephen Eugene Freeman, 55, of Atmore on three separate charges.
Brooks said reports are unavailable, but said the arrest is the result of an ongoing investigation that was being conducted at a house on Hodgen Road. Freeman reportedly fled when the lawmen arrived, eventually heading back into Florida.
He later returned to Alabama and was placed under arrest. Brooks said he has not seen the final report yet, but “believes it was meth” Freeman was in possession of. The Atmore man was also charged with second-degree marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, both misdemeanors.
No details were immediately available, but the Baldwin County Jail’s website shows that an Atmore man — 28-year-old Devin Wayne Ratliff — was arrested January 13 by Bay Minette police and charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Ratliff is also being held under a “detainer for hold” from an unspecified agency. The jail website did not include a mug shot.