A Russellville man remains in the Franklin County Jail Sunday night on a felony charge of Drug Trafficking after officers found methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana at his residence Thursday night.
Bernard Phinizee, 79 Timberline Drive in Russellville, may face additional charges once the investigation is complete, according to Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver.
Late night on June 26th, officers with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Russellville Police Department, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and Alabama Drug Enforcement Task Force served a search warrant at the residence after receiving multiple complaints of suspected drug activity.
Deputies secured a search warrant and while executing the warrant officers found 11 ounces of methamphetamine, more than four ounces of cocaine and a small amount of marijuana, Oliver said.
Officers also seized numerous guns and cash while the search warrant was executed.
Oliver said Phinizee attempted to flee the residence when officers and deputies arrived and he threw a small glass jar containing methamphetamine, Oliver said. The jar was located once Phinizee was taken into custody.
Officers located drugs stored in numerous glass jars in the yard and there was a hollowed out piece of firewood used to store illegal drugs that was found.
Phinizee remained in jail as of Sunday night on a $100,000 cash bond.
Trafficking in Methamphetamine in an amount of 11 ounces carries a mandatory sentence of at least three years that must be served, and a $50,000 fine upon conviction.
Trafficking in Cocaine in the amount of four ounces, upon conviction, carries the same mandatory three year sentence and a $50,000 fine.
As with all defendants charged with a criminal offense, Phinizee is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
