A man’s bond was revoked Monday during open court when he failed to appear for a hearing in the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas. Judge Steven Beathard revoked bond for Michael Wheeler, 57, and issued a warrant for his arrest.

Wheeler was out on bond with a charge of aggravated trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony, records show.

The Washington Court House man was charged after he allegedly sold drugs in the front yard of a house as Washington Police Department officers drove past Jan. 6. Wheeler is facing up to a year-and-a-half in prison and a $5,000 fine.

The trafficking offense allegedly occurred when an officer and a detective with the Washington Police Department were driving in a police cruiser down North Main Street. As the officers passed the house, they allegedly saw Wheeler make a drug transaction with a man who was sitting in front of the house in a black Pontiac.

Upon seeing the transaction, one of the officers remarked, “They just did a drug deal right in front of us,” according to reports.

The officers turned around as the black Pontiac left the house and made a traffic stop. When the officers asked the driver for the drugs he had just bought from Wheeler, the man allegedly reached into his coat and handed the officer a blue bundle marked “10 ice.”

“Ice” is the crystal-like substance known as methamphetamine. According to reports, it was $10 worth of methamphetamine inside the blue bundle. The driver, identified as David Wood, Sr., was later charged and sentenced for aggravated possession of drugs.

The area on North Main Street was known by police to have drug activity, reports said.

Wheeler did not appear for Monday’s 10 a.m. hearing and at approximately 12:30 p.m., Wollscheid stated she was unable to contact him and Beathard revoked bond.

Incident and arrest reports filed recently by the Washington Police Department state Wheeler was charged Sept. 18 with inducing panic for reportedly having a drug overdose at his 630 Clinton Ave. residence. Emergency personnel were able to revive Wheeler and charges were filed.