A tip for criminals: Don’t watch television while breaking the law.

That lesson could have kept Robert James Fails Jr. and Leo Crenshaw from being arrested Wednesday night by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department and charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Fails, 20, and Crenshaw, 19, both of Selma, were found with approximately $650 worth of crack-cocaine along with $882 in cash, according to Dallas County Assistant Chief Deputy Wayne Odom.

Dallas County Sgt. David Odom stopped Fails and Crenshaw on Gaines Avenue at about 8 p.m. Wednesday because Fails, the driver, was watching a television inside the car.

Fails gave David Odom permission to search the car during the stop; that’s when about four grams of crack-cocaine were found by Crenshaw on the passenger side of the vehicle.

Both men were arrested for possession of a controlled substance and brought to the Sheriff’s Office in separate patrol cars.

When Crenshaw was taken out of the patrol car at the Sheriff’s department, a deputy noticed a plastic bag in the backseat of the vehicle, which turned out to have about $15 worth of marijuana in it.

Another plastic bag filled with about two grams of crack-cocaine was found in the backseat of the car Fails rode in when he was taken out.

Fails was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and his bond set at $2500. Crenshaw was charged with the same offense, in addition to unlawful possession of marijuana second degree. His bond was set at $3500.

Both were brought to the Dallas County Jail, but have since been released on bond.

Wayne Odom said that Wednesday’s arrest was the result of a special unit set up by Dallas County Sheriff Harris Huffman. The unit’s purpose is to answer complaints from people in Selma and Dallas County about illegal neighborhood activities.