Man arrested for allegedly selling meth near southern Arizona school

PHOENIX — A man was arrested this week in southern Arizona for allegedly selling methamphetamine out of a home that was across the street from an elementary school.

The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that 37-year-old Marcus Payne was allegedly selling the drug in a home that was 250 feet away from Arizona City Elementary School.

The arrest on Monday came at the head of a two-month investigation, the sheriff’s office said.

A “sellable” amount of methamphetamine, a scale, drug paraphernalia, a .22 caliber long rifle and ammunition was found in the home at the time of the arrest.

Three children were also reportedly found inside the home at the time of Payne’s arrest.

“We have a serious drug problem in this country, and it is disgusting to see a father selling a dangerous drug like meth right across the street from a school, but has children inside his home exposed to the drug,” Sheriff Mark Lamb said in a statement.

“I commend our narcotics units for their efforts shutting down his operation and putting him behind bars.”

Payne is facing multiple drug charges, including possession and sale of dangerous drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, the sale of drugs within a school zone and misconduct involving a deadly weapon. He is also expected to face child endangerment charges.

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