Drug stashes found in pipe

By Patti Dozier

March 26, 2008 11:19 pm

— THOMASVILLE — People intent on hiding drugs bury them and even conceal the contraband at others’ residences.
Sometimes man’s best friend comes to the rescue when the hiding place is particularly tricky. Such was the case at a 913 N. Madison St.
The suspect, Nathaniel McIntyre, 38, was asleep when Thomas County/Thomasville Narcotics/Vice Division agents executed a search warrant at the house.
Crack cocaine was found under a napkin in a kitchen cabinet, but officers thought there were more drugs. Enter Thomasville Police Department canine unit.
“The canine kept showing interest in the back area of the house where a washer and dryer were,” commander Kevin Lee said, adding that an old stove pipe protruded from the ceiling in the room.
The canine showed great interest in the floor beneath the pipe. Officers looked up and saw a sock stiffed into the pipe. The sock contained a pill bottle.
“The pill bottle was full of crack cocaine cut up into small pieces,” Lee said.
Some $1,537 in U.S. currency was found in McIntyre’s bedroom.
The suspect is charged with cocaine possession with intent to distribute. The 25 grams of the contraband found were three grams less than required for a cocaine trafficking charge.
“The value would be well over $2,000,” Lee explained.
McIntyre is on probation for the same offense.
Agents are familiar with another suspect and his residence from past dealings.
Agents were told Christopher Marshall, 33, 1302 Wright St., would be sitting in a Chevrolet Prizm in the back yard of his residence.
When agents approached Marshall, he ran to the rear door of the house and tossed a set of keys to a woman inside. The woman told officers the cars was hers.
A search of the vehicle produced several pieces of crack cocaine. Marshall is charged with cocaine possession with intent to distribute.
At another Thomasville residence where agents were told cocaine was being sold, powder cocaine was found in a man’s shoe.
“We were doing surveillance from a wooded area nearby. On several occasions, we saw people go to the door, make contact with the suspect, stay several minutes and leave,” Lee said.
James Okee Love, 32, who lives at the residence — 1505 N. Dawson St., Apartment B — is charged with cocaine possession with intent to distribute.
“More arrests are pending,” the commander said.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 220.