Staff Writer

Feb. 24, 2000 10 PM

An alert citizens helped put a man behind bars and take drugs off the streets Wednesday night.

Just two days after announcing revival of the Neighborhood Watch program, the Troy Police Department received a tip of suspicious activity and the result was an arrest.

Brandon Michael Crissman, 24, of Rockledge Fla., was charged with first-degree possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under the influence.

At approximately 9 p.m., the TPD was notified by a resident of suspicious circumstances regarding the suspect and his vehicle. Crissman was stopped on County Road 21 in Troy and was arrested after more than a pound of marijuana and drug paraphernalia was discovered in the vehicle.

The felony possession of marijuana charge carries a $5,000 bond. Bond on the DUI is $1,000 and $500 on the possession of drug paraphernalia charge.

"This arrest is a result of utilizing our available resources as effectively as possible to deter the availability of illegal drugs in Troy," Troy Police Chief Anthony Everage said.

Sgt. Benny Scarbrough, public information officer for the department, said it was because someone was concerned that Crissman was caught.

"We’re very appreciative of that individual who notified us of something suspicious," Scarbrough said.

Crissman was transferred to the Pike County Jail.

The Neighborhood Watch program was instituted earlier this week and was announced by Police Chief Anthony Everage and Mayor Jimmy C. Lunsford.