An alert citizen helped police put a suspected drug dealer behind bars last week.
Michael C. Belvins, 46, of Palatka, Fla., has been charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, after police allegedly found heroin in his pockets.
According to court records, at about 3 p.m. on June 15, police were dispatched to the 800 Block of West Fourth street to investigate a report of a possible burglary in progress.
The caller who reported the burglary also reported having witnessed a possible drug deal made between a man and woman in a white truck that was parked in the same block.
As police arrived, the truck was just leaving the area, and officers followed and pulled it over.
Inside the truck were a male driver and a female passenger, and the driver identified himself as Belvins, according to police.
Belvins told police that he was coming from "the store over there."
When asked who his passenger was, "he gave the name 'Theresa' but said he did not know her last name," according to police.
Belvins got out of the truck to speak with officers, and was informed about a complaint that he may have been involved in a drug deal a few minutes earlier.
Belvins denied being involved and explained to police that "Theresa" had phoned him for a ride.
While officers patted Belvins down, however, two bundles of heroin, containing 19 individual packets, fell out of his pockets, according to police.
Belvins was arraigned before District Judge Jon E. Kemp on June 15. He is incarcerated in lieu of $40,000 bail.
Belvins will face a preliminary hearing before District Judge James G. Carn at 1:30 p.m. on June 26.
