Suspect spits out drugs

YOUNGSTOWN — After watching a known drug house on Hine Street called the “Chicken Shack,” police saw a car with a cracked windshield leave the driveway without its rear license plate illuminated, followed it and made a drug arrest around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday near South Avenue.

The driver, Clint Hood, 42, of Bouquet Avenue, mumbled when asked questions about the drug house, and Detective Sgt. Gerard Slattery applied pressure to Hood’s throat to prevent him from swallowing, reports show.

Hood then spit out two plastic bags of suspected crack cocaine, police said. Hood was charged with possession of crack cocaine, driving under suspension and unsafe vehicle.

Police said Hood has four open suspensions on his license. On the way to jail, Hood thanked Slattery and Detective Sgt. Frank Rutherford for arresting him, saying it will force him to clean up his life.