By By Adam Prestridge
A tip Saturday afternoon led to the arrest of a Hispanic man believed to be trafficking methamphetamines into Atmore, ending a two-year investigation by local law enforcement agencies.
Agents with local drug task forces arrested Manuel Chapa, 35, of Brownsville, Texas just after 7 p.m. near the Poarch area for possession of methamphetamines. A search of his room at the Greenlawn Motel in Atmore later revealed five ounces of methamphetamines, $827 cash and a set of digital drug scales.
Once notified of the possible drug trafficker, the 21st Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force as well as investigators and officers with the Atmore Police Department took action.
The 21st Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force out of Escambia County and the 35th Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force out of Monroe and Conecuh counties have been working on the case, with assistance from the Atmore Police Department, for more than two years, according to Williams.
Chapa, 6-foot-1, was booked at the Atmore city jail on charges of trafficking in illegal drugs, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. If convicted, Chapa faces 20 years to 99 years in prison, according to agents.