MURFREESBORO — A flush of the toilet didn’t make one Murfreesboro man’s problems go away.

On Thursday, officers with the Murfreesboro Police Department, assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, arrested Stacey E. Lassiter, 35, of 1109 E. Vance Street.

According to Murfreesboro Police Chief Darrell Rowe, at 11:45 a.m. his officers along with the FBI executed a search warrant at Lassiter’s residence. He said MPD Narcotics Officer Lt. Joe Burgess obtained a search warrant for the home and local FBI agents were called in for assistance.

Rowe said when officers arrived Lassiter was sitting on the porch of the home. The suspect then got up and went inside with officers following in an attempt to catch him. Lassiter went into the bathroom where officers observed him flush the toilet.

Rowe said officers detained Lassiter along with another subject.

“Officers continued to search the residence and during the search they discovered an unspecified amount of what was believed to be crack cocaine,” said the chief.

Drug paraphernalia and $6,499 in U.S. currency was also discovered.

After the search, Lassiter was taken into custody and charged with felony possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Lassiter was taken to the Murfreesboro Police Department where he was processed and taken before the magistrate. Rowe said Lassiter was given a $25,000 cash bond which he was able to post.

Rowe thanked Lt. Burgess along with the other officers from MPD and the FBI for their work.

He said hopefully the arrest will keep some residents of the neighborhood from being exposed to this type of crime.

“We will continue our effort to rid our streets of this poison,” he said.

This isn’t Lassiter’s first “flushing” incident with the MPD. In September 2007, the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald reported an incident where officers were serving a search warrant on Lassiter’s residence when the suspect ran into the bathroom. After following Lassiter, officers discovered the toilet had been flushed.

Upon searching Lassiter, crack cocaine was found in his pants by officers. During the search of the residence, digital scales, a police scanner and cash was also found.

Lassiter was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, maintaining a dwelling for the sale of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and resist, and obstruct and delay police officers. He placed on a $40,000 secured bond and taken to the Hertford County Jail. He later made bond.

According to the North Carolina Department of Corrections, Lassiter has three prior convictions for possession of schedule II (controlled substances).