By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A Montevallo man is behind bars again on a felony drug trafficking charge after members of the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force said they kept him from completing a drug deal to send about $31,000 worth of synthetic marijuana into the hands of local high school students.

Only two weeks after 29-year-old Montevallo resident Derrick Reed posted bond on multiple other drug distribution charges, Task Force members arrested him on counts of trafficking synthetic marijuana, distribution of a controlled substance, first-degree unlawful possession of marijuana and illegal possession of a firearm on March 11.

Task Force Commander Lt. Clay Hammac said deputies arrested Reed in Montevallo while the suspect allegedly was conducting an active drug deal. During the arrest, deputies found Reed to be in possession of more than 500 grams of synthetic marijuana packaged for sale and two illegal firearms, Hammac said.

“We put a street value on it, and it came out to about $31,000 worth of synthetic marijuana,” Hammac said. “We can specifically identify that he was a key provider and distribution point for our local high school students. What is frightening about this is that all of that synthetic marijuana was destined for the hands of high-schoolers.”

Hammac said the synthetic marijuana was intended for distribution in Montevallo High School, Pelham High School, Calera High School, Thompson High School and Helena High School.

Hammac said synthetic marijuana carries many possible dangers, especially for children.

“This stuff is certainly not FDA approved. The synthetic components of this drug are not made in safe environments,” Hammac said. “When you smoke it, you don’t know what you are going to get. There are so many dangers that it is essentially a game of Russian roulette.”

Hammac said synthetic marijuana can lead to seizures, unconsciousness, comas and even death.

When Reed was arrested on March 11, he had only been out of the Shelby County Jail on bond for four felony unlawful distribution of a controlled substance charges for about two weeks.

Hammac said Reed is a “longtime alleged drug dealer,” and said Reed instilled fear among his Montevallo neighbors.

“We are going to be able to re-establish that line of communication with that community. This is a victory for our communities in Shelby County,” Hammac said. “The unsung heroes in this are our narcotics investigators. They pour so much of themselves into this job. It’s a matter of life and death, and they are genuinely concerned about the well-being of their communities.”