Posted on 04/17/2004 7:42:35 AM PDT by Bobby Chang
Charleston police act on employees' tips; 5 arrested
BY PHILLIP CASTON Of The Post and Courier Staff
In a Friday night raid on a downtown grocery store where police suspected drug dealing and illegal gambling, Charleston narcotics officers seized cocaine, marijuana and video poker machines.
Officers raided the Cannon Street Grocery at 571 King Street about 6:45 p.m. They were following tips from employees at the store, Lt. James Mackey of the Charleston Police Department said. Officers arrested five people, including several store employees, on charges ranging from trafficking cocaine to illegal gambling.
"This was a pretty good operation for a businessman to have," Mackey said.
The business is owned by Jimmy Martin, who is also a Charleston County detention officer, according to Mackey. Martin was given a citation for possession of gambling machines but was not arrested.
Officers seized about 30 grams of cocaine, small quantities of marijuana and three illegal video gambling machines, according to Mackey. Some of the store employees and managers would allow drug deals to occur in the bathroom and the gambling room in the back of the store, Mackey said.
"People would come in, and the management staff would direct them to the back where they could buy coke and pot," Mackey said. "They had a license to sell beer, but they sure didn't have a license to sel cocaine."
Larry Glover, 40, is charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute within a half-mile proximity of a school and assaulting a police officer, police said.
Kevin Huggins, 39, is charged with trafficking cocaine and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute within a half-mile proximity of a school, officers said.
Greg Frasier, 35, is charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute within a half-mile proximity of a school.
Margaretta Jones, 47, and Kenneth Fulmore, 43, are both charged with distribution of marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute within a half-mile proximity of a school, police said.
Grimball Heyward, 41, and William Polite, 48, are both charged with possession of marijuana, according to police.
When officers moved in to serve the warrant, Glover tried to flee the store, Mackey said. It took about six officers to detain Glover as he attacked officers in an attempt to escape, according to Mackey.
Based on tips from employees, Mackey said the business had been operating illegal gambling machines for about three years. The small store was usually thriving with activity, Mackey said.
"You could tell there was something else going on in there other than selling boiled eggs and pickles," Mackey said.
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