Vineland man in intensive supervision program grows pot, sells coke and steroids, has gun

VINELAND — A man who police arrested last week was selling steroids and cocaine and growing marijuana while in an intensive supervision program, police said Wednesday.

Leslie H. Mitchell, 43, of the 2600 block of Dante Avenue, was charged with possession of cocaine, steroids and marijuana, as well as distribution charges, weapons offenses and violating his parole.

Captain Thomas Ulrich said that the department’s street crimes unit, in addition to the State Police Teams Unit, executed a warrant at Mitchell’s home around 6:30 p.m., March 7, after a short investigation into narcotics activity at the house.

Inside, they found a small amount of powdered cocaine, steroid pills, liquid steroids, eight small marijuana plants, drug paraphernalia, $3,590 in cash, a Phoenix Arms .22 caliber handgun and a magazine containing seven rounds of ammunition.

Mitchell was in an intensive supervision program (ISP), which grants convicts early release from prison so long as they can follow certain criteria, such as holding down a job and not being arrested.

Mitchell was arrested in May of 2009 and charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm during a controlled dangerous substance offense.

Rather than jailing him on his current charges, he was lodged in the Cumberland County Jail on a no bail warrant for violating the ISP.

Police said the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was tracing the gun.