Tip leads to drug charges for local man

A tip led to the seizure of what Black Mountain police chief Shawn Freeman called a “significant amount” of drugs on Oct. 20.

John Jerrold Postle, of Black Mountain, is facing multiple drug-related charges after BMPD officers executed a search warrant in his home, according to Freeman.

“We received a call that there were drugs outside of the home,” he said. “There were some workers inside the home who stated there was a large amount of drugs inside the home as well.”

Officers made contact with the homeowner and entered the residence after receiving a search warrant, Freeman said.

“We got in the home and found almost four pounds of marijuana, 18.2 grams of cocaine and we also found over 200 dosage units of illegal steroids,” he said.

BMPD charged Postle with seven felonies, including possession with intent to sell, manufacture or distribute cocaine, maintaining a vehicle dwelling or place for a controlled substance and two possession with intent to sell, manufacture or distribute marijuana.

“This is part of our ongoing effort to keep Black Mountain as clean as we can,” Freeman said. “As I’ve said before when we get information like this we take it seriously and immediately start following up. This is an example of just how that works.”

The arrest was the second time within a week that the department charged an individual with a felony drug offense.

On Oct. 14 officers pulled over a Candler man, Michael Jay Blankenship, for driving with a revoked license. The stop, at the corner of Richardson Boulevard and U.S. 70, resulted in felony drug charges for Blankenship, according to Freeman.

“We found cocaine, he had 17.5 grams of marijuana with him and methadone,” Freeman said of the arrest. “We also found baggies, pipes and scales, which allowed us to charge him with the sale and delivery of those items.”

Blankenship was charged with felony possession of cocaine among other charges.