Reservoir: Dog squad find alleged drug dealer hiding in front yard

A man made a run for it after police allegedly caught him visiting a known drug dealer’s house in Reservoir. But it was what police allegedly found in the car he left behind which really got him in trouble.

Police dogs were called to find Atesok after he ran from police. (Generic photo)

Police dogs found a man hiding in a Reservoir front garden after he bolted when officers allegedly caught him visiting a notorious drug dealer’s house.

Oner Atesok allegedly parked outside the Botha Ave house at 7.30pm on March 26, which police had raided and seized a large amount of drugs and cash from earlier in the day, and began walking up to it when he noticed police

He allegedly jumped numerous fences to get away from police, as his mate, who was waiting in his car, was arrested, before the dog squad discovered him crouched in someone’s front yard almost an hour later.

More than 3g of methamphetamine was allegedly found in Atesok’s car. (Generic photo)

The 34-year-old fronted Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, April 29, to apply for bail, having been locked up for more than a month, accused of drug trafficking and car theft.

The court heard the Kia he drove to the Reservoir house was allegedly a stolen car bearing stolen number plates.

Inside it, police allegedly found 3.78g of a substance believed to be methamphetamine, 600ml of liquid believed to be butanol, IDs in various names, snap lock bags and electronic scales.

The court heard police also allegedly found Atesok’s wallet near where he was hiding, which contained a driver’s licence in another name with the photo removed.

Senior Constable Robinson said the unemployed father of two was allegedly known to be using about a gram of methamphetamine a day.

He said police believed the Epping man was at an unacceptable risk of offending in the community.

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Atesok’s lawyer told the court his client didn’t know the car was stolen, having bought it off an associate, and said it had previously been used as a share car.

He said police had a weak case for the trafficable charges, saying they couldn’t prove the drugs were Atesok’s, and that the weight might only just tick over the trafficable quantity threshold of 3g.

Magistrate Helen Murphy agreed there were issues with the charges that needed further exploration, which could take some time with the delays being imposed by coronavirus

Ms Murphy said the significant support Atesok’s parents were offering at their Epping home with his wife and young children lowered the risk of releasing him.

She granted him bail with a curfew and instructed him to undertake drug treatment.

“You need to have a good hard think about how you conduct yourself,” she told Atesok.

“Your children will be children once, and they are looking at how you conduct yourself.”