Man charged for allegedly distributing drugs near Columbia school

A man was in jail Thursday afternoon after police arrested him for allegedly distributing drugs near a Columbia school.

Columbia police say its Vice Narcotics Organized Crime Unit arrested 46-year-old Reginald Howard Tuesday while serving a search warrant in the 400 block of Park Avenue.

Around 2:00 Tuesday afternoon, detectives saw Howard park in front of a residence on Park Avenue. Police said they then started serving a search warrant at the residence and detained Howard.

Detectives said they found 27 small baggies of brown powder that tested positive for heroin, an electric scale with powder residue on it in a backpack, and another electronic scale with razors, baggies and cut straws.

The residence on Park Avenue is 285 feet from Douglass High School, 119 feet from Park Avenue Child and Family Development Center and 186 feet from Norah Stewart Early Learning Center.

Police said the school were notified before officers served the search warrant.

Howard is charged with manufacturing or producing a controlled substance with intent to distribute. He remained in the Boone County Jail Thursday with a $100,000 bond.