Drugs found in steering column of used car

CARTERSVILLE, Ga., June 24 (UPI) -- A Cartersville, Ga., man said mechanics found crack and powdered cocaine hidden in the steering column of his recently purchased used car.

Mike Schaub said workers at Car Audio Sensations found a bag of crack and a bag of powdered cocaine under the dash of the Pontiac he purchased from Bill Heard's used car lot, WSB-TV, Atlanta, reported Tuesday.

"Everybody just backed away like it was a bomb or something. Then we just called the police from there because no one wanted to get in trouble," Car Audio Sensations owner Steve Rice said.

Authorities said Bill Heard purchased the car from a rental company. They said neither company is believed to have been aware of the drugs.

"It was hidden in a very good spot, it was in the steering column and I can see somebody missing it," said Lt. Mark Mayton, Bartow County Drug Task Force commander.

A lawyer with Bill Heard said the dealership reversed their deal with the rental company and has replaced Schaub's Pontiac with an Impala for $10 less a month. The dealership also took six months off of Schaub's loan for his trouble.