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Man Busted With Drugs in Hilton Alexandria Mark Center Parking Lot

A man parked in the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center parking lot was charged with possession of a Scheduled I or II substance after a complaint was raised that he was selling drugs.

On August 30, Alexandria Police were called to investigate a “suspicious” event and possible drug dealing at the West End hotel located at 5000 Seminary Road. They found a man sitting in the driver’s seat of a van in the parking lot “holding a cellular phone and counting what appeared to be a large sum of U.S. currency,” according to a search warrant affidavit.

The suspect was lethargic, and officers asked him to step out of his van.

The officers saw a plastic bag sticking out of the man’s pocket, and they asked him what was in the bag.

“My medicine,” the suspect reportedly said, and then said, “Powdered cough medicine.”

According to the affidavit, “(The suspect) then pulled the bag from his pocket revealing a bag of white powdery substance and two tin foil wrappings with contained white rock-like substance.”

The suspect was arrested for possession or intent to distribute a schedule I or II controlled substance. He was taken to Inova Alexandria Hospital and admitted to police that the 6.5 grams they seized was crack cocaine, according to the affidavit. The substance later tested positive as a controlled substance.

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About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.