Clinton Public Safety Sgt. Cathy Anderson responded to the McDonalds’ on Highway 56 at Interstate 26 at 7:49 Saturday night on a report of an altercation in progress. An argument inside the store and reportedly moved outside. A report came in that a man and woman had argued and the man had gone towards the Blue Ocean. Officer Peay patrolled the parking lot at the Blue Ocean while Sgt. Anderson spoke with the female victim, who was found sitting inside McDonalds, visibly shaken and crying. As officers were talking with her the boyfriend reportedly called her indicating she had messed up and that he would be picked up due to drugs in her car. Officers determined he was able to observe their actions. Meanwhile, the woman gave officers information on the man’s car with NC plates. Officers Peay and Harris located the man’s car in the Blue Ocean parking lot.
Officers arrested 49-year-old John Derrick Bell of 1412 Dorset Drive, Spartanburg on multiple charges. In addition to a Simple Assault charge for the alleged altercation with his girlfriend, Bell was charged with Trafficking in Heroin, Possession of Crystal Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Weapon during a Violent Crime. Bell was also charged with Unlawful Possession of a Prescription Medication, Illegal Possession of a Schedule IV Narcotic and Financial Transaction Card Fraud.
Public Safety Officer J. Ritter states that on February 21st John D. Bell had in his possession a plastic bag containing grains of heroin at 12774 Highway 56 North in Clinton and that he also had in his possession two plastic bags with a combined weight of 6.67 grams of crystal methamphetamine. Ritter further states that Bell possessed a Jimenez Arms 9mm pistol Saturday while committing the crime of Trafficking Heroin.
Public Safety Officer J. Ritter also alleges that on February 21st John Derrick Bell had unlawful possession one round, white pill of Furosemide and one round, white pill of Carvedilol at 12774 Highway 56 North inside Clinton. Officer Ritter further states that on the same date and location Bell had in his possession a blue, oval-shaped pill identified as Alprazolam. John Bell also allegedly had in his possession four financial transaction cards that were not issued to him.
Cash or Surety bonds totaling were set this weekend totaling $44,000 on the six charges, with the largest bond, $25,000, from the Trafficking Heroin charge. John Derrick Bell of Spartanburg was placed in the Laurens County Detention Center yesterday. Personal Recognizance bonds were set totaling $1,155 on charges of Simple Assault and Possession of a Duplicate Driver’s License.
Items listed as confiscated included drugs, a firearm and a large sum of money.
