Palatine man charged with selling heroin

A 43-year-old man with a history of drug arrests faces three more drug charges after a search of his Palatine apartment turned up heroin, authorities said Saturday.

Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Lesley Gool said that Palatine police officers, as part of a “sting” operation, purchased 0.3 grams of heroin from Melvin Cole, 1322 Ports O’Call, with a marked $20 bill. Armed with a warrant, police on Friday evening searched his apartment and discovered that marked bill along with more heroin and other cash, authorities said.

Cole was charged Saturday with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

During Saturday’s bond hearing, Gool said Cole told police he sells six packets of heroin to Palatine residents each day. Palatine Police had been investigating Cole, a four-year resident of Palatine, for the past month.

Cole has previous arrests for possession of a controlled substance and burglary and served 30 months in jail in 2007 for a drug charge. Judge Sam Betar set bail for Cole at $50,000. He is due back in court on Aug. 18.