11 grams of heroin worth $1,200 seized from man who hid it behind a tire rim during a traffic stop; $989 cash and a small amount of marijuana found
Eric Bell, booked with possession with intent to distribute 11 grams of heroin worth $1,200
Just under $1,000 in cash and a small amount of marijuana also was seized.
Eric Bell, 28, was driving an SUV on March 19 and was stopped with two passengers when all were seen not wearing a seat belt and Bell also disregarded a stop sign, Sheriff Pohlmann said.
Bell pulled over to a gasoline station in the 2700 block of Paris Road and when Dep. Joshua English approached he smelled the odor of marijuana and ordered all of them out of the vehicle, with assistance from Dep. Ryan Lopez.
One occupant, Eric Mies, 19, 2716 Bradbury Drive, Meraux, admitted he had a small bag of marijuana on him and turned it over.
The three men were placed on the ground near the vehicle when Dep. Lopez told Dep. English that Bell was moving around near the front, driver’s side tire. They investigated and saw part of a plastic bag which had been placed behind the tire rim.
The deputies removed the bag and it contained 10 individual bags with a brown substance inside which tested positive for heroin. The total amount found was 11 grams worth $1,200.
Bell also had $989 cash on him.
A hand-rolled cigar containing marijuana was found on the ground near Bell, the sheriff said. And the third man, Manuel Nicosia, 24, of Slidell, had a syringe in the waist band of his pants. Another syringe was found on the ground near the vehicle.
Bell was booked with possession with intent to distribute heroin and disregarding a stop sign. All three were booked with marijuana possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and no seatbelt in use. Nicosia was also booked with probation violation.
Bell was being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of $20,000 bond. Nicosia has a probation hold and Mies has been released on bond but the amount wasn’t available.
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