Local man wanted for drug dealing
A Greencastle man charged with Class A felony dealing in cocaine has continued to elude capture since March.
A warrant for the arrest of Michael Smoot, 44, of the 100 block of South Jackson Street was issued on March 27, but authorities have been unable to locate Smoot.
According to court documents, Putnam County Sheriff's Department officers met with a confidential informant on March 22. The informant said he was "willing to make a controlled buy" at Smoot's home.
The informant told officers he had heard Smoot "had just gotten into town with a load of cocaine to sell," and that Smoot had already offered to sell him cocaine if the informant would come to Smoot's house.
The informant "advised that he did not like the sale of this type of drug around children and wanted to assist us in catching him," a report fro the Putnam County Sheriff's Department said.
The informant was fitted with a wire and give $200 in cash to make the buy. He was followed by two officers to Smoot's home.
The informant entered Smoot's home, where he purchased nine bags of cocaine. After the buy, the informant told officers he had been told Smoot also had a large quantity of marijuana.
Officers were also able to capture a sale to another subject through the informant's wire.
Later that same evening, member of the Greencastle ERT Team served a search warrant on Smoot's home, but by the time they got there Smoot -- and the drugs -- were gone.
"A small amount of marijuana shake, stems and seeds could be located throughout the apartment; however, no quantity was located," court documents said. "A strong odor of green marijuana could also be detected throughout the apartment."
Smoot's criminal history in Putnam County consists of traffic infractions and a 2005 misdemeanor marijuana possession charge that was dismissed.
A Class A felony carries a maximum prison term of 50 years.