Muncie man held in heroin-dealing probe
Douglas Walker
The Star Press
MUNCIE, Ind. – A Muncie man is accused of helping an agent for the Delaware County sheriff's narcotics unit purchase heroin.
Joseph Manual Bush, 21, of the 600 block of East Linda Layne, was arrested Friday on a preliminary count of dealing in a narcotic drug, a Level 5 felony carrying up to six years in prison.
In an affidavit, a deputy wrote that Bush was given $125, went from one vehicle to another and returned with 0.7 gram of heroin.
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While they waited for the apparent supplier of the heroin to arrive at a meeting place, the deputy said, Bush indicated that he personally had been using "ice" – a street term for meth – rather than heroin.
During an interview after his arrest, Bush told the deputy he "guessed that he was not someone we would want," apparently referring to the amount of heroin involved in the transaction.
"I advised him that we don't care if someone is selling 0.1 gram of 100 grams, we want all people selling drugs," the deputy wrote.
Bush continued to be held in the Delaware County jail on Monday under a $5,000 bond.
According to court records, he has been convicted of criminal trespass, driving while intoxicated, possession of marijuana, residential entry, theft (five times), unauthorized entry of a vehicle (twice) and unlawful possession of a syringe.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.