Pubdate: Fri, 22 Mar 2002
Source: Jacksonville Daily News (NC)
Copyright: 2002 Jacksonville Daily News
Contact:  http://www.jacksonvilledailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/216
Author: Jannette Pippin

POLICE BURN DRUG SUSPECT WITH FAKE FIRE

A staged call about a grass fire helped Carteret County authorities put a 
man accused of selling marijuana in jail.

Steven Francis Fasano, 49, of 219 Redwood Drive in Broad Creek, was 
arrested Wednesday by the Carteret County Sheriff's Department and charged 
with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and cocaine, 
manufacturing marijuana by packaging and re-packaging, and maintaining a 
dwelling for drug activity.

Fasano was arrested after the Sheriff's Department staged a fire call to 
get Fasano out of his home so that a search warrant could be executed, said 
sheriff's detective Frank Galizia.

Approximately a pound of marijuana and another 4.9 grams of a white 
substance suspected to be cocaine were seized from Fasano's home, Galizia said.

With cooperation from the Broad Creek Fire and Emergency Medical Services 
Department, sheriff's deputies rode into Bogue Pines Mobile Home Park off 
N.C. 24 with a fire truck and ambulance with lights and sirens. Galizia 
said they walked around the neighborhood with firefighters and rescue 
workers asking about a fake grass fire.

"We told them we had gotten a call about a man having a heart attack while 
putting out a grass fire," Galizia said.

The goal was to attract Fasano's attention to get him to leave his 
residence so that deputies could quickly get inside his home with a search 
warrant.

Galizia said investigators feared Fasano would dispose of any drugs that 
may have been inside the house once he knew why deputies were there. 
Because deputies anticipated multiple locks on the home that could delay 
their entry, they didn't want to give Fasano time to dispose of evidence.

The grass fire tactic was a first for Galizia.

"As soon as he opened the front door, the deputies were there waiting," 
Galizia said.

Sheriff's deputies were joined by detectives Jeff Covington of Morehead 
City Police Department and Tami Thomas of Atlantic Beach Police Department 
in executing the search warrant.

Fasano also has a residence in Hillsborough, and authorities said he 
travels between Carteret County and Hillsborough to conduct alleged drug 
dealing.

Galizia said the Sheriff's Department received a tip from a caller to 
Crimestoppers that marijuana was being sold at the residence. The 
department obtained a search warrant based on the tip and prior information 
investigators had about suspected drug activity by Fasano.

Fasano was placed in the Carteret County Jail under a $10,000 bond.
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