Local Seattle steroid bust
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Huge Steroid Bust In Thurston County
August 15, 2005
By Tracy Vedder
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THURSTON COUNTY - Thurston County detectives tell us it's the biggest steroid bust they've ever made -- more than 40,000 doses worth more than $1.5 million on the street.
But the local body builder targeted in the arrest claims detectives are blowing the case way out of proportion. He talked only to KOMO 4 News, telling us he's just doing what it takes to compete.
At first, suspect Jeff Bell was reluctant to talk about his arrest, saying he didn't know if his attorney would approve. But eventually, like former major leaguer Jose Canseco with his tell-all book on steroid use, Bell told KOMO 4 News openly that he uses steroids, and believes there is nothing wrong with it as long as people are careful.
"That's the only way to level the playing field," says Bell, a professional bodybuilder. "And if you're not using and others are, they're going to have that advantage."
Thurston County Sheriff's detectives busted Bell on Friday for allegedly possessing and planning to sell steroids. They found both pills and liquid steroids, along with needles to inject the drugs.
After talking with both a pharmacist and a veterinarian, detectives estimate they found more than 40,000 doses.
"Obviously the amount that this particular suspect had is far beyond what the average person would have," says Sheriff's Captain Brad Watkins.
Bell told KOMO 4 he is a professional consultant who's taken numerous body builders to competition wins. When asked about the health risks of steroids, he answered, "Before I take on any client, they have to go and get a physical and blood work done both before and after."
He also said he wouldn't work with anyone under the age of 18, "because of the simple fact once you're 18, you're an adult, you can make your own decisions. Before that I won't work with them."
But later, Bell said he doesn't give steroids to any of his clients: "They're on their own and my recommendation is always that they go see a doctor themselves."
Bell added that everything detectives seized in his apartment was for his personal use for next year's national competition in which he planned to compete.
Detectives say that's laughable: "The amount of dosages that he had was up over 40,000 dosages," says Captain Watkins, "and if it was for his personal use it was going to be for his personal use for many, many, many years to come."
Bell says this case is being blown way out of proportion and that police estimates of both the doses and value of the steroids in his apartment are highly exaggerated.
But the Sheriff's Office is taking this seriously. Bell has one prior conviction for steroid possession and they're hoping to get a conviction this time that could lead to as much as five years in prison.
