Busts lead to seven arrests
Published 9:06 pm Monday, July 1, 2013
Two separate drug investigations wrapped up last week with seven arrest in Beaufort County.
The first investigation netted four arrests in Washington between June 20 and June 25: William Tarrell Hyman, 27, of 48 Sunnyland Dr., Charles Eugene Gorham III, 29, of 1223 Maple St., Jonathan Hopkins, 32, of 412 Havens St., and Kenneth Vaughn Smith, 27, of 587 Barrus Construction Rd., Greenville.
Complaints about drug activity in the Quail Ridge apartment complex spurred the investigation by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit, but it was surveillance over a month-long period that led to the arrests, according to a drug unit spokesman.
“From our position we could actually see hand-to-hand transactions — a green, leafy substance exchanged for money,” he said. “It was a good investigation, really.”
On June 20, 55 grams of marijuana were found when investigators stopped and searched a vehicle that had left the apartment. Hyman, a passenger in the vehicle, was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia for a set of digital scales also found during the search, said a press release.
According to the drug unit spokesman, continued surveillance provided the evidence needed for a search warrant for the residence.
“Before going in (with the search warrant) we knew the players,” said the spokesman. “The people we thought would be there, were there.”
Inside the apartment at 1223 Maple St., investigators seized 236 grams of marijuana prepackaged for resale, along with digital scales, drug-packaging material, $751 in cash, police scanners and a .41-caliber Smith and Wesson revolver, said the release.
Gorham, Smith and Hopkins were charged with manufacture/sell/deliver/possess a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school and possession of drug paraphernalia. Gorham was also charged with felony possession of marijuana, maintaining a dwelling to facilitate drug activity and possession of a firearm by felon.
Days later, a series of controlled buys arranged by investigators led to the arrests of three Chocowinity residents — this time for the alleged sale of heroin.
On June 27, a search of a N.C. Highway 33 West residence turned up heroin-packaging material, cutting agents and used syringes, in addition to 17 bindles of heroin packaged in wax paper, said the release.
Elijah Zechariah Scott, 21, Michelle Dawn Beavers, 27, and Robert Wayne Smith, 22, were each charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver heroin and conspiracy to sell and deliver heroin. Scott and Beavers, both residents of 2495 N.C. Highway 33 W., were also charged with felony maintaining a dwelling to facilitate drug activity and possession of drug paraphernalia.