Brinton: Slain Restaurant Owner Suspected Of Dealing Pot
Eric Lamont Brown was shot to death just two weeks ago.
VIDEO: Word On The Street (11/9/07) The shooting occurred late in the afternoon at his Charlotte Avenue baked potato restaurant, Spudz.But was it robbery as Metro police originally believed, or a drug deal gone bad? Investigators are not sure at this point.A security camera caught the critically wounded Brown running out the rear door of his restaurant. He was racing to his car, but he never made it. Instead, he collapsed outside his car where he was found dead.The camera also caught a car driving away, but no suspect has been arrested.What made detectives suspect the restaurant owner was involved in drugs?Officers discovered 1 ½ pounds of marijuana found hidden in the restaurant's kitchen. The marijuana was wrapped in 36 individual plastic baggies. In street sales, they’re called dime bags and sell for $10.One of the baggies, I was told, was by the kitchen counter.Police believe it was probably ready for sale and was going to be picked up immediately.Was that alleged sale going to the person who killed Brown?Even prior to Brown being murdered, Metro's drug officers had suspected Brown of being involved in marijuana trafficking.The 36-year-old victim had an arrest record dating back to 1994 but no arrests in Nashville since 2001.Those arrests include two charges of possession of drugs with intent to sell.
VIDEO: Word On The Street (11/9/07) The shooting occurred late in the afternoon at his Charlotte Avenue baked potato restaurant, Spudz.But was it robbery as Metro police originally believed, or a drug deal gone bad? Investigators are not sure at this point.A security camera caught the critically wounded Brown running out the rear door of his restaurant. He was racing to his car, but he never made it. Instead, he collapsed outside his car where he was found dead.The camera also caught a car driving away, but no suspect has been arrested.What made detectives suspect the restaurant owner was involved in drugs?Officers discovered 1 ½ pounds of marijuana found hidden in the restaurant's kitchen. The marijuana was wrapped in 36 individual plastic baggies. In street sales, they’re called dime bags and sell for $10.One of the baggies, I was told, was by the kitchen counter.Police believe it was probably ready for sale and was going to be picked up immediately.Was that alleged sale going to the person who killed Brown?Even prior to Brown being murdered, Metro's drug officers had suspected Brown of being involved in marijuana trafficking.The 36-year-old victim had an arrest record dating back to 1994 but no arrests in Nashville since 2001.Those arrests include two charges of possession of drugs with intent to sell.Copyright 2008 by WSMV.com. All rights reserved.
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