Suspicious bike ride leads to drug arrest

Staff

Published Monday, September 22, 2008

A midnight bike ride for one Florala man led him and his brother directly to the Covington County Jail early Saturday morning.

A Drug Task Force spokesman said Florala officer Chris Neal and reserve officer Wesley Craig observed Kevin Russell riding a bicycle around midnight on the streets of Florala.

“The bicycle didn’t have any reflectors on it,” the spokesman said. “The officers tried to stop Russell, but he took off down the street on the bicycle. He rode a ways before he ditched the bike and took off on foot; however, he went straight to his house on Washington Avenue – straight to his bedroom.

“That’s where the Florala officers found him,” the spokesman said. “Russell’s brother, Kenneth, gave officers consent to enter the house, and laying right there in plain view was some crack and marijuana.

“Kevin first gave officers false information as to his identity, but it was later discovered he had warrants from the Covington County Sheriff’s Office, the Andalusia Police Department and the Opp Police Department.”

The Florala officers then secured the residence and contacted the DTF for assistance.

Agents then obtained a search warrant for the residence and later discovered several small bags of marijuana, an unidentified amount of crack cocaine and marijuana, as well as several smoking devices.

Kevin Russell was charged with second-degree possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, obstruction of governmental operations and giving false information to a law enforcement officer. He was held on a $26,500 bond.

Kenneth Russell was arrested on two warrants for negotiating a worthless instrument.

The DTF spokesman said agents also located some marijuana in another location in the residence and more arrests are expected.