Man found trafficking drugs at apartment with child living in storage closet

A 62-year-old Marietta man, William Baptist, has been charged with drug trafficking for the third time after police say they found crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana at his Fair Oaks apartment on Austell Road. In addition to the assortment of drugs, police found a 3-year-old child who they say was living in a storage closet in the apartment.

On Aug. 31, 2021, Cobb Police executed a search warrant at Baptist’s apartment and discovered over 55 grams of crack cocaine, over 17 grams of methamphetamine, and 22 grams of marijuana. His apartment is located just over a thousand feet from a nearby Elementary School, Fair Oaks. Police described drugs scattered around the apartment in plastic bags and in a shed that police found Baptist leaving when they arrived on the scene.

Baptist’s arrest warrant also states police found a 3-year-old child inside the apartment and indicated that a bedroom for the child was in a storage closet.

According to police records, Baptist was first arrested in 2014 for selling or trafficking drugs and again in 2018. The arrest in August represents his third arrest on similar charges.

In the current arrest, Baptist faces one felony count on each of the charges including possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; purchase, possession, manufacture, distribution or sale of marijuana; and trafficking in cocaine, illegal drugs, marijuana or methamphetamine. Baptist is also charged with a misdemeanor count of reckless conduct in connection to the child.

In October 2018, Baptist was charged at the same address with seven felonies and a misdemeanor, including trafficking crack cocaine, intent to distribute cocaine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of 3 ounces of marijuana and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

During one of his earlier arrests, police say Baptist attempted to swallow cocaine during a traffic stop near his residence. In a different incident, Baptist sold crack cocaine to a police officer.

Baptist remains in the Cobb County jail without bond.