Man pleads not guilty to nine charges
Published 5:00 pm Saturday, July 16, 2011
An Austin man who was reportedly found carrying crack cocaine and heroin after allegedly assaulting an 11-year-old pleaded not guilty in Mower County District Court Thursday morning.
Melvin Tyrone Bush, 47, faces two charges for drug sale, three charges for drug possession and four charges for domestic assault. Five of the charges are felonies.
According to a court complaint, police were called to the 500 block of Sixth Avenue SE for a domestic assault report around 1:30 a.m. on July 4. A juvenile witness told police Bush had punched an 11-year-old who was sleeping on the couch because Bush didn’t like that he was sleeping there.
A 14-year-old in the house stood up for the boy and yelled at Bush for hitting him, according to court documents. Bush then allegedly put his hand in the 14-year-old girl’s face and pushed her head backwards.
Police arrested Bush immediately upon arrival as they knew he was wanted on a Rochester warrant for child support. When Bush was searched, officers found a baggy containing crack cocaine in his pocket. The court complaint stated an officer had to pry the bag out of Bush’s hand because he wouldn’t turn it over.
K-9 Bosco was brought in to search the house for drugs. Bosco located several baggies of crack cocaine, tinfoil bindles containing a small amount of cocaine and a bag of .2 grams of heroin. 3.6 grams of cocaine were found total. Officers also found a scale in the house and $197 cash in Bush’s pocket.
Bush’s jury trial is scheduled to begin on Oct. 3.