Bare-headed bike rider is arrested with shabu packs

A SIMPLE traffic violation led to the arrest of a suspected drug pusher in Cebu City.

Several packs of suspected shabu worth at least P200,000 and two .45 pistols were recovered from Joel Noel of barangay T. Padilla, Cebu City.

Based on the amount of substance we have recovered, he is surely a big time street pusher,” said Senior Supt. Melvin Buenafe, chief of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO).

He said the two arresting officers can expect a commendation.

Police said Noel tried to evade arrest and fired a shot at one of the arresting policemen but missed.

Noel was seen driving a Mio motorcycle on P. del Rosario Street past 2 a.m. yesterday. He had no crash helmet on, which caught the attention of patrolling policemen.

PO1 Necio Torreon and PO1 Gerry Molina, who were on board a Mobile Patrol Group (MPG) car, tried to flag down Noel but the man sped off.

They chased him through Imus Road, where he avoided a police checkpoint and turned to the reclamation area.

Noel ‘s motorcycle crashed at the junction of Genenal Maxilom Avenue and S. Osmeña Street.

PO1 Torreon was about to approach him when Noel drew a .45 pistol and aimed at the policeman.

The law enforcer was able to grab Noel’s hand and the shot was fired downward.

Noel was overpowered.

Another .45 pistol was found tucked in his waistline, said police, with a bag containing several packs of white crystalline substance and shabu sniffing paraphernalia.

Noel was treated for body bruises at the Cebu City Medical Center then was moved to Visayas Community Medical Center upon the request of his relatives.

In barangay Lorega, Cebu City, a 22 year-old man was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation yesterday .

Police said Fabian Rafols was arrested shortly after he sold a pack of suspected shabu to a poseur buyer in sitio Cañares.

Seven more medium packs of suspected shabu and P7,000 were seized from Rafols’ possession, said Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, chief of the City Intelligence Branch. CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON WITH CORRESPONDENT CARINE M. ASUTILLA