Excise officers arrest men for selling drugs near school
Posted: Apr 15, 2013 6:48 AM EST | Updated: Nov 5, 2014 10:51 PM EST
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- What started out as an investigation into illegal cigarette sales late Wednesday night turned into a drug bust on the corner of Olive and Kenwood Avenue.
During their investigation, excise police say they witnessed drug sales, which landed the mini mart owner, Manwinderjit Singh and two others, Tyrell Loving and Jessie Heflin behind bars.
Heflin, 32, of South Bend, was arrested on preliminary charges of dealing marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school and cited for sale of single cigarettes and sale of tobacco with an expired tobacco-sales certificate.
Loving, 23, of South Bend, was arrested on a preliminary charge of dealing marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school.
Singh, 23, of Michigan City, was preliminarily charged with maintaining a common nuisance, possession of marijuana, dealing in drug paraphernalia and sale or possession of a legend drug (Viagra).
Indiana state excise officer Brandon Thomas said, "The amount of marijuana in which these subjects were arrested for dealing would have been an a misdemeanor."
However, because the alleged transactions took place within 1,000 feet of Kennedy Academy, the charges were enhanced to class c felonies.
Police say that as the weather warms up, they tend to see more of this kind of activity.
"That’s just the fact that probably what they were doing inside during the winter time is now taking place outside where its more visible."
Officer Thomas says excise police are always around, watching and protecting.
"In this case, what transpired the other night fits right in with our mission of trying to keep the public safe.
The excise police say that if you ever notice any suspicious or illegal activity you can anonymously tip them off by calling them or sending a message through their website: www.In.Gov/atc/isep/