Dallas County deputies arrest man on drug charges

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, July 2, 2008

The Selma Times-Journal

The Dallas County Sheriff&8217;s Department arrested Patrick Bernard Smith, 35, Friday and charged with unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

Officers acquired search warrants for Smith&8217;s home at 2228 Alabama Ave. and his mother&8217;s home in Selma.

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The search of both homes produced about one-half pound of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a small amount of what appeared to officers as cocaine.

Officers also confiscated a gun at each residence.

Three schools stood within 2,500 feet of Smith&8217;s residence.

Smith caused suspicion for quite a while for the Sheriff&8217;s Department.

They began an undercover investigation on Smith at the beginning of June.

Freine said, Smith admitted to being a &8220;long-time drug dealer in Selma.&8221;

Smith&8217;s mother does not face any charges.

The charge Smith faces is classified as a Class B felony. If indicted and convicted, he could face between two and 20 years in prison for the charge. Distributing within a three-mile radius of a school could possibly add another five years.

Alabama suspends a person&8217;s driver&8217;s license for six months for any conviction of a marijuana related crime.

Officers booked Smith into the Dallas County Jail under a $15,000 bond. He made bail and was released Friday.