Deputies had to break through a wall to get to a suspect who allegedly was flushing drugs down a commode Friday.

Arrested in the case were Travis Lee Anderson, 37, of 655 Philippi Church Road, and Clarence Julius “C.J.” Puckett III, 32, of 295 Vanderford Road. Both were charged by the Union County Sheriff’s Office with trafficking cocaine and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Anderson also was charged with possession of a Schedule 4 narcotic. Both men were being held in the Union County Jail on Monday; bond had not been set for them.

Sheriff David Taylor said an officer received information that Puckett was selling drugs out of his residence. A search warrant was obtained and several officers went to the house. They found both doors locked and as officers announced their presence, they could hear someone running through the house.

Officers forced their way in and found Anderson standing beside a couch. A bathroom door was locked. A narcotics officer broke through a sheet rock wall and officers found Puckett flushing drugs down a commode. Plastic bags that contained around two ounces of cocaine and a quantity of marijuana were found next to the toilet.

Puckett claimed the drugs as his.

While searching the house, the officers found two more bags which contained around six grams of cocaine near the couch in the living room where Anderson had been standing. Two partially smoked marijuana cigarettes and scales also were recovered in the house.

Officers searched Anderson’s Nissan, which was parked in the driveway of Puckett’s house and found a plastic bag which contained around an ounce of marijuana, a bottle which contained 40 Alprazolam pills and digital scales.

A report said officers spoke with Puckett at the jail and he told them times were hard, he needed money and that is why he was selling cocaine. Puckett signed over $1,177 in cash he had in his possession to the sheriff’s office .Cell phones, notes and records belonging to the men also were seized.

According to his booking sheet from the Union County Jail, Puckett is self-employed.

Anderson is employed with the Family Independence Program at the Union County office of the Department of Social Services. DSS media relations and constituent services director Marilyn Matheus said officials would have to glean more facts about Anderson’s arrest before determining his job status.

“It’s certainly dependent on the charge and naturally the agency feels this is a very serious charge,” she said. “Deborah (Bishop, director of the Union County DSS office) will work with local law enforcement to get an exact determination of the incident and she will work with DSS’ human resource division to determine what action to take.”

Arrested in break-in

Wesley Dale Waldrop, 19, of 114 Union Boulevard; Charles James Travis, 18, of 300 Hicks St.; and a 15-year-old boy all were charged Friday with second-degree burglary.

A report said Officer Angela Cogdill was on patrol checking property when she saw three people coming from the building at 213 West Main St. All three took off running behind Provident Bank. She advised other officers and Officer Al Griffin detained one of the three at the alcohol and drug abuse prevention building and Cpl. Dell Mitchell caught the other two on Hunters Alley.

Modest Keenan, who supervises the building, was called to check the building and found a fire extinguisher had been discharged inside.

All three of the teen-agers admitted to entering the building.

Thefts

On 217 Wardlaw St., a victim told Cpl. Randy Manus Saturday that someone took his Ruger P89 9mm pistol from the dash of his truck. It is worth $425.

Also on Saturday, a victim told Deputy Scott Coffer that someone took her Dell laptop computer from the trunk of her Toyota Camry while she was at 528 Police Club Road. It is worth $1,800.

Sunday, a victim told Deputy Jermaine Smith that he parked his 1999 Ford Crown Victoria at Joe’s Mobile Home Park on 1732 West Springs Highway, Jonesville, and when he came back he found someone had taken his Jensen TV/CD player. It is worth $300.

On 715 North Pinckney St., a victim told Officer Randy Canupp that she came home and found two very large flower pots and her Craftsman weed eater/edger were missing. These are worth a total of $479.