Klifton Adam Bond

Amanda Rawson Bond

• 
• 
• 
• 

At Monday’s Foley City Council meeting, the council decided to revoke the business license of Klifton Adam Bond and Amanda Rawson Bond, who owned B & R Tires Automotive and B & R Auto Depot, located at 1021 N. Hickory St. in Foley.

Foley Police Chief David Wilson stated during the council work session that the department was prepared to present evidence that Bond was trafficking drugs out of his business and “had a steady flow of customers.”

“Investigations were conducted by the Baldwin County Drug Task Force, which we are a member of,” Wilson said. “With that evidence, we want to ask the city to revoke their license; put them out of business.”

Up until the public hearing before the council meeting, Wilson said, as a right, the business was open and allowed to conduct business.

Before the council meeting began, the prosecutor for the city of Foley, Michael Dasinger, gave an overview to the council and audience of the situation.

“… I understand that we have to show the gentleman, Adam Bond of B&R Tires Automotive and B & R Auto Depot, was properly served with the notice to revoke his license,” Dasinger said. “I have an officer here concerning the reasons why we want to revoke his license and that was that he was charged with unlawful possession with intention to distribute methamphetamine as well of other drugs out of his business, and we have the photographs and other things to show why we believe his license should be revoked.”

Several members of the audience came to the city council in favor of B & R to stay in business.

Rick McCall of Magnolia Springs said he moved here eight years ago, and immediately starting doing business with B & R.

“I’ve never seen any drug business going on there,” he said. “I bought several sets of tires there, and I would like to continue to buy tires and getting work done there. I see no harm in Adam or Mandy Bond. I understand they had an employee there selling drugs, and that was not Adam or Mandy, who are the owners, but one of the employees. I think they have a good character and they should be able to continue to do business.”

Lisa Clark of Gulf Shores said she had known the family, helping take care of the couple’s daughter and pets.

“They’re good people,” Clark said. “I’ve been in their house and never seen no drug activity. And I would know. I’m a Christian and I would know what’s going on. I’ve been to their shop, cleaned up their shop and never seen no drug activity. (Mandy’s) got a lot of clients and hold business very well. She’s very nice to people that come in, helps people all the time. She’s very generous and has a very good heart. Adam gives stuff away. During a carport sale, he’d give everything away and wouldn’t even sell it. What I’m trying to say is that they’re not as bad as everyone thinks they are. They’re pretty good people and he hired the wrong guy and he made a mistake and they have a fuss over it. They wanted to give a guy a chance and Mandy didn’t’ want to. Mandy wanted him gone because she had a bad feeling about it, so that’s what really went down. I just hope the business can be saved; that was the legacy of her father, and it was rightfully her business from Mr. Rawson, which was a very good citizen of Foley. I think they need another chance. The business is not as bad as everyone thinks.”

Dasinger came back to the council and said based on what they heard, he would like to present what transpired during a search of the business.

Dasinger interviewed the case agent of the Baldwin County Drug Task Force that handled the B & R case.

The agent said he received a drug complaint and performed an investigation of the business, in which he conducted surveillance of the business and used a confidential informant who purchased methamphetamine from the business. The confidential informant purchased drugs from Adam Bond on two occasions.

In early November, a search warrant was conducted on the business. When the officers arrived, initial contact was made with Adam Bond, the case agent said.

“He had just over 12 grams of meth in his physical possession (in his hand),” the agent said.

Hypodermic needles filled with solution were found as Donald Thomas attempted to flee around the building. The case agent was unsure if Thomas worked at B & R, but he was there “all the time.”

One of the photos presented showed a large amount of meth, which the agent and prosecutor said would constitute the intent to distribute, not personal possession.

Heroin was found on another party’s possession, as well as marijuana blunts, and five people were arrested the day of the search, per the case agent.

A line of methamphetamine was discovered on a desk inside a utility shed on the property by investigators.

The last photo presented was a pipe and spoon with residue. The case agent believed it to be methamphetamine residue. It was found in the front office desk, which belonged to Mandy Bond.

Adam Bond provided a written statement; the case agent couldn’t recall the specifics of the statement, but said Bond didn’t claim the items found.

Bond was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The prosecutor said Adam Bond was out on bond for receiving stolen property in August at the time of the arrest, which is a felony charge. Since being arrested in November on drug charges, Adam Bond has been arrested again for driving under the influence in Gulf Shores.

Councilman Ralph Hellmich made a motion to revoke the business license, with Councilwoman Vera Quaites seconding. All council members voted in favor except Councilman Rick Blackwell, who abstained.

Attorney Casey Pipes made a few closing remarks regarding the revocation. A different person can reapply for a business license in the city of Foley at the same location. The application would be treated like any other new business license in the city. If Bond is found not guilty, Pipes said there is nothing stopping Bond from reapplying for a business license.