News Flash
07-25-2007, 01:03 PM
SPD detective's son arrested for selling drugs
STAFF REPORT
MANATEE COUNTY -- Authorities arrested the son of a Sarasota police detective Monday on charges he sold undercover agents two ounces of cocaine.
Ross Laplante, 19, of east Manatee County, is the son of veteran detective James Laplante.
According to reports, in February Ross Laplante arranged to meet undercover detectives at Livingston's Billiards in Bradenton. Laplante had the detectives follow him to a church in the 900 block of 63rd Avenue West, reports stated.
Another man, Timothy Phelps, met the group and they exchanged money. The undercover detectives reportedly gave Phelps and Laplante $1,600 and the officers got $1,400 to hold.
Phelps and Laplante went to a home in the 2800 block of 52nd Avenue Terrace West in Bradenton to buy the drugs, and told the officers to meet them a short time later, the report said.
Laplante and Phelps returned with the cocaine and met the officers at the church for the exchange, the report stated.
Laplante was charged with trafficking a controlled substance, a felony.
He was released from the Manatee County jail on Tuesday.
Laplante's lawyer, Mark Lipinski, declined to comment, and efforts to contact Laplante's family were unsuccessful.
Source (http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20070725/NEWS/707250440/-1/Help07)
STAFF REPORT
MANATEE COUNTY -- Authorities arrested the son of a Sarasota police detective Monday on charges he sold undercover agents two ounces of cocaine.
Ross Laplante, 19, of east Manatee County, is the son of veteran detective James Laplante.
According to reports, in February Ross Laplante arranged to meet undercover detectives at Livingston's Billiards in Bradenton. Laplante had the detectives follow him to a church in the 900 block of 63rd Avenue West, reports stated.
Another man, Timothy Phelps, met the group and they exchanged money. The undercover detectives reportedly gave Phelps and Laplante $1,600 and the officers got $1,400 to hold.
Phelps and Laplante went to a home in the 2800 block of 52nd Avenue Terrace West in Bradenton to buy the drugs, and told the officers to meet them a short time later, the report said.
Laplante and Phelps returned with the cocaine and met the officers at the church for the exchange, the report stated.
Laplante was charged with trafficking a controlled substance, a felony.
He was released from the Manatee County jail on Tuesday.
Laplante's lawyer, Mark Lipinski, declined to comment, and efforts to contact Laplante's family were unsuccessful.
Source (http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20070725/NEWS/707250440/-1/Help07)