By By LYDIA GRIMES – Features writer
The Brewton Police Department, along with the 21st Judicial District Drug Task Force made a big marijuana bust in Brewton Friday, Oct. 28, when 306 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $489,000 was recovered from a vehicle on Belleville Avenue.
According to Brewton Police Chief Monte McGougin, the marijuana is probably the largest recovery of compressed marijuana ever made in Escambia County (Ala.).
Chief McGougin said that Sgt. Eric Suarez, along with Officer Rodney Brand and Officer Jeff McGraw were on duty early Friday morning. They had noticed a suspicious vehicle riding around town and at one time it was parked on East Jackson Street.
At approximately 2:45 a.m. Sgt. Suarez made a routine stop of the same vehicle, which was speeding on Belleville Avenue. The truck was a 2003 Chevy H-D.
The dog team from Fountain Prison was called in from Atmore and the man was tracked to the area around T.R. Miller High School and the Huddle House before the dogs lost the scent. About an hour after the man abandoned the truck on Belleville, it was reported as being stolen in Montgomery.
After investigating several places the truck had been seen, one search led the police to 905 Lovelace Avenue in Brewton. Armed with a search warrant, officers entered the house and found traces of marijuana along with two handguns, a rifle, a shotgun and a set of scales.
Patrick Eugene Bruce, 27, was arrested and charged with trafficking in marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, which are felony charges. Chief McGougin said he was not the same man who was driving the truck when it was stopped and the search for the driver continues. According to police records, Bruce has been arrested before, and as of Friday afternoon his bond had not been set.
The Humane Society was called to pick up some pit bulls that were in a pen at the residence.