Man pleads guilty to drug charge

An Austin man who was found carrying crack cocaine and heroin after reportedly punching an 11-year-old pleaded guilty to one criminal charge as part of a plea agreement Thursday.

Melvin Tyrone Bush, 48, pleaded guilty to fifth-degree drug possession in exchange for the dismissal of eight other charges ranging in severity from misdemeanor to felony.

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 girl in the house stood up for the boy and yelled at Bush for hitting him, according to court documents. Bush then reportedly put his hand in the girl’s face and pushed her head backwards.

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. Police said 3.6 grams of cocaine were found total. Officers also found a scale in the house and $197 cash in Bush’s pocket.

Bush has not been scheduled for a sentencing hearing yet.

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