It wasn’t just traffic citations that the Criminal Interdiction Team handed out Sunday morning while they were on routine patrol; three men, one stopped for suspicion of driving while impaired and the other for having a concealed license plate, found themselved jailed on drug and weapons charges as well.

The two separate incidents occurred when deputies with Sampson County CID were doing routine patrols in the Garland and Harrells Highway areas.

According to sheriff’s reports, CID officers stopped a burgundy 1999 Ford Ranger around 12:05 a.m. Sunday at North Ingold Avenue in Garland for suspicion of DWI. The driver of the vehicle, Charles Junior Smith, 27, of 4200 Bull St., Garland, was taken into custody for that charge as well as possession of an open container of alcohol.

While deputies were frisking Smith, reports show they discovered a small bag of a substance believed to be marijuana in his pants pocket.

When the deputies went to talk with the passenger of the vehicle, Jamal Thomas Smith, 18, of 4206 Bull St., Garland, reports show they observed the suspect attempting to conceal something, later discovered to be drugs, in his mouth. A search of Jamal Smith revealed “crack-cocaine” and marijuana.

Both men were transported to the Sampson County Detention Center, where officers discovered powder cocaine underneath Jamal Smith’s clothing, for which he was charged as well.

Charles Smith was placed in the Sampson County Detention Center under a $1,500 bond for DWI; possession of marijuana; and possession of an open container of alcohol. One gram of marijuana was seized from Charles Smith.

Jamal Smith was placed in the Sampson County Detention Center under a $15,000 bond for possession of cocaine; possession of marijuana; and possession of a controlled substance in a jail. In all, 1.5 grams of crack cocaine, 2 grams of powder cocaine, and 3.5 grams of marijuana were seized from Jamal Smith.

Smith was also given a trial date of Oct. 30.

License plate issue

leads to arrest

At 12:26 a.m. Sunday morning, CID team members stopped a white 2000 Oldsmobile for having a concealed license plate. The stop occurred on Harrells Highway.

During the incident, a deputy noticed a small bag of a substance he believed to be marijuana on the floorboard between the driver’s feet and another baggie with a white substance on the vehicle’s console. When the deputy went to seize the drugs, he also discovered a pistol between the console and the driver’s seat.

The driver, Raeford Lawan Fennell, 34, of 2945 Delway Highway, Rose Hill, was immediately taken into custody. He was charged with possession of cocaine; possession of marijuana; carrying a concealed weapon; driving while license revoked; possession of drug paraphernalia; and concealing a registration plate.

Fennell was placed in the Sampson County Detention Center under a $10,000 bond and given a trial date of Oct. 30.

Reports state that approximately 2.7 grams of marijuana and .07 grams of cocaine were seized at the stop.