The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

February 8, 2010

Fla. man charged with Beckley prescription drug crime

By Amelia A. Pridemore

A Florida man faces a prescription drug-related charge after Beckley Police say they found him with controlled substances and more than $1,000 in cash.

Danny Earl Bishop, 25, of Palatka, Fla., is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, said Detective B.M. Atterson of the Beckley Police Department’s narcotics unit. Bishop is in the Southern Regional Jail.

Atterson said narcotics detectives received two Crime Stoppers tips that led to the arrest. The tipsters said two Florida residents were staying at the Quality Inn on Harper Road. The Floridians, the tipsters said, were there to sell prescription drugs they obtained in their home state and had been to the Beckley area before.

Atterson said he and Detective Sgt. Jason McDaniel did surveillance at the hotel Friday. They were able to identify the suspects and find out what room the suspects occupied. They waited for the suspects to drive away from the hotel.

Cpl. Will Reynolds conducted a traffic stop, Atterson said. Reynolds’ K-9, Helo, indicated narcotics were inside the vehicle. Bishop was removed from it.

Atterson said Bishop had $1,450 in cash, a bottle of Oxycodone and a bottle of Alprazolam (Xanax). The Oxycodone prescription for 180 pills was filled Feb. 2. Less than 10 pills were left inside the bottle.

Police found several other prescription pill bottles — medications prescribed to several different people who were not present — for Oxycodone and Xanax, Atterson said. All prescriptions were filled in Florida.

They also found a .22 caliber handgun in one of Bishop’s bags in the vehicle’s trunk. It was not loaded.

A second adult man, two adult women and an infant were also inside the vehicle, Atterson said. The other adults were released. Police did find more than $2,000 cash on the second man, and he could face charges later. This man and the two women were released.

Atterson said the department truly appreciates Crime Stoppers and the citizens who call the organization with tips. Those tips, he said, have led to several narcotics arrests.

Anyone with information about drug activity is encouraged to call the Beckley P.D. narcotics unit at 304-256-1844 or Crime Stoppers at 304-255-7867.

Crime Stoppers also accepts tips online at www.crimestoppersofraleighco.org.

— E-mail: apridemore@register-herald.com

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