DEKALB COUNTY, AL (WAFF) -
Prosecutors in DeKalb County are looking to cash in on illegal spice sales from a Geraldine business.
It's not uncommon for prosecutors to seek condemnation of money and vehicles used for drug sales, but now prosecutors in DeKalb County are capitalizing on the fact that spice is now listed as an illegal drug in Alabama.
The Geraldine Shell station was padlocked when the owner was arrested Monday night on charges he was selling spice.
Prosecutors now hope to take his business away from him.
Papers were filed Tuesday afternoon in DeKalb Circuit Court to have the business condemned and forfeited to the DeKalb County Commission.
The filing is also asking for just over $3100 that was seized from the store. This could be the first such filing in the state since the Alabama legislature deemed spice illegal.
Prosecutors said taking such actions can be a very good deterrent in the war on drugs.
"One thing that I have observed during that time period is for a lot of people who are in the drug business, taking their property is more of a punishment to them than sending them to prison," said Scott Lloyd, Assistant District Attorney in DeKalb County.
Lloyd said the business will remain closed until a judge orders otherwise.
The case will be heard before a judge, but no hearing date has been set.
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Prosecutors hope to forfeit the Shell to the DeKalb County Commission after a spice bust on Monday.
Rajeshkumar Patel (Source: DeKalb County Sheriff's Office)
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