A local man who went to prison for the 2009 hit-and-run death of a popular Hudson’s Bay High School teacher was back in Clark County Superior Court on Tuesday. Antonio E. Cellestine, 23, was arraigned on suspicion of selling drugs at a west Vancouver apartment complex and driving with a suspended license.
It’s the second time the Hudson’s Bay graduate has gotten in trouble since completing his vehicular homicide sentence.
On Nov. 25, police learned that a man named Tony was selling drugs from the parking lot of Courtyard Village Apartments, 2600 T St., according to court documents. A detective who went to the complex observed a man, later identified as Cellestine, making transactions. Another detective pulled over one of the buyers, who said she purchased heroin for $20, the documents said.
Police recovered the heroin and stopped Cellestine, who was driving a silver Lincoln Continental as he left the parking lot. They found heroin in the coin pocket of his jeans. Detectives also found $483 and several Washington State Quest welfare benefits cards in other people’s names, the documents said.
He was booked into the Clark County Jail on suspicion of delivering heroin, possessing heroin with intent to deliver and first-degree driving with a suspended license.
The next week, police served a search warrant on the Lincoln, as well as Cellestine’s cellphone. A plastic bag containing more than 30 grams of methamphetamine was found inside a backpack in the backseat, along with a bottle of prescription medicine and two digital scales, the documents said. A detective said she had seen Cellestine wearing the backpack while making transactions.
In January 2010, Cellestine was sentenced to five years for the vehicular homicide of Gordon Patterson. Cellestine was texting and driving when he struck Patterson, who was riding his bicycle home from work on Northeast St. Johns Road.
Only a few months after completing his vehicular homicide sentence, in July 2013 Cellestine was returned to prison for violating his release and incurring a traffic offense. He was released from prison a few months ago and said he was unemployed when he was arrested on the recent driving and drug-related allegations. His next hearing is set for Jan. 29.
