Suspected drug dealer texts officer by mistake
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Police in West Melbourne arrested a man after he texted an on-duty police officer by mistake, allegedly to set up a drug deal.
Veteran police officer Harvey Whitney said he received a text from an unknown number asking him if he wanted to buy "bud," or marijuana.
"'Is this a joke?' was my first actual thought," said Officer Whitney.
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He says he later learned it was real text from a man later identified as 20-year-old Hasan Burke. Palm Bay Police took Burke into custody when he showed up at a designated meeting spot, as he was walking a dog on Cutlass Street in Palm Bay.
 
Police say they found 16 grams of marijuana in Burke's pocket. Officer Whitney says he told the suspect he texted the wrong number.
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"You could see by his own body language and his expression that he was like 'Wow, I just did this!'" said Whitney.
Burke is charged him with drug possession with intent to sell, a felony in Florida.