Pettis now facing multiple drug charges

An Appleton man who was on probation out of Santa Rosa County and out on bond in Conecuh and Escambia counties in Alabama on drug charges is being held in the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton on multiple new drug charges.

Malcom Ross Pettis, 60, 6652 Appleton Road, was arrested last Thursday on outstanding warrants and following his arrest additional drug charges were added.

Escambia County Sheriff's deputies went to Pettis' residence about 5 p.m. last Thursday to arrest him on warrants charging him with leaving the scene of an accident, four counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance (prescription pills) and two counts of possession of prescription drugs without a prescription.

Chief Deputy Mike Lambert said the warrants were obtained following about a month-long investigation. While deputies were at his residence last Thursday, Pettis arrived as a passenger in another vehicle.

Lambert noted when deputies patted Pettis down, they discovered the prescription pills Xanax and a pipe. Once at the detention center, officers discovered a white crystal-like substance in his possession that tested positive for methamphetamine.

In addition to the original charges, Pettis was then charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

Pettis was given a $10,000 bond on the new charges. Friday, Escambia County District Attorney Steve Billy filed a motion to have his bond revoked on a previous drug charge.

In April, 2018, an Escambia County grand jury indicted Pettis for unlawful possession of a controlled substance (meth) and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. He was out on $5,000 bond at the time of his arrest last week.