Multiple individuals have been taken into custody following a joint investigation by the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) Division and the High Point Police Department. The North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Commission has suspended all permits for Washington Quick Mart, located at 200 N Centennial Street in High Point.
The operation is part of an ongoing initiative aimed at reducing crime linked to ABC-licensed establishments in the High Point area. Authorities have focused on addressing complaints about illegal drug activity and violence associated with the property.
“ALE Special Agents are trained to dismantle criminal activity at alcohol permitted businesses,” said Bryan House, Director of North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement. “This location had become a haven for illegal drug sales and use, gang activity, and other serious crimes. Working alongside the High Point Police Department, the actions taken in this case, including the suspension of the ABC permits by the North Carolina ABC Commission demonstrate a strong, coordinated effort to reduce crime in this community.”
During their investigation, ALE agents confiscated 261 grams of cocaine, 311 grams of crack cocaine, one gram of fentanyl, and seven firearms from convicted felons.
So far, suspects tied to Washington Quick Mart face 175 charges: 118 felonies and 57 misdemeanors. The following individuals have been charged:
Naeem Ahmed Bhatti (Owner/ABC Permittee): Four counts of felony maintaining a store for a controlled substance; seven counts each of misdemeanor failure to superintend an ABC licensed outlet; misdemeanor allowing unlawful conduct on ABC licensed premises; misdemeanor manufacture of drug paraphernalia; and misdemeanor possession of glass tubes or splitters.
Mohammad Saleem (Employee): Seven counts each of misdemeanor allowing unlawful conduct on a licensed premise; misdemeanor manufacture of drug paraphernalia; misdemeanor possession of glass tubes or splitters; one count of misdemeanor sale of cigarettes without proper warning labels.
Christopher Christian (Patron): Felony trafficking in cocaine by possession; felony trafficking in cocaine by manufacture; felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver cocaine; two counts felony maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance; several counts related to conspiracy to traffic cocaine by various means; misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
Patrick Darnell Allen (Patron): Multiple counts including felony trafficking in cocaine by possession, sale, delivery, transport and manufacture; four counts felony possession with intent within 1,000 feet of a school; eight counts felony maintaining a vehicle for controlled substances among others.
Roger Legrand Blocker (Patron): Counts include attempted trafficking cocaine by sale/delivery/possession as well as multiple charges relating to selling and delivering drugs near parks.
Harding Mickel Rice (Patron): Charged with several offenses involving selling and delivering cocaine including within proximity to parks.
“Partnerships and collaboration are crucial for helping keep our community safe,” said High Point Police Department Chief Curtis Cheeks III. “Detectives with our Vice and Narcotics Unit worked closely with ALE special agents on this case for months to address a community concern. Their hard work and investigations helped get criminals, illegal weapons and drugs out of our neighborhoods.”
Authorities say that the investigation remains active with additional charges possible as it continues.
ALE Special Agents serve as peace officers throughout North Carolina with authority over both legal alcohol establishments holding ABC licenses as well as illegal ones. Their responsibilities include enforcing laws regarding alcoholic beverages along with gambling, lottery, tobacco regulations and nuisance abatement statutes across the state.
