Police say man tossed drugs during traffic stop as officers prepared to release him with warning
By Zach Rainey
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NORTH CHARLESTON, South Carolina (WYFF) — A man who was about to receive a warning from police during a traffic stop in North Charleston, South Carolina, landed himself in jail after officers say he tried to slyly toss a baggie of fentanyl and cocaine.
Around 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 25, officers with the North Charleston Police Department were patrolling near local hotels on Ashley Phosphate Road when they spotted a driver, later identified as 40-year-old Vincent Leonard Jones Jr., not wearing a seatbelt and initiated a traffic stop.
As officers followed the vehicle before it came to a stop, they reportedly observed Jones moving around and interacting with the center console, leading officers to suspect he may have been attempting to hide contraband or grab a weapon.
Officers said that the vehicle eventually stopped near Northside Drive and La Quinta Lane.
Police said Jones became uncooperative when officers attempted to conduct a frisk, backing away and refusing to comply. Although officers confirmed he was not carrying a weapon on his person, they considered his behavior, the area’s history of drug activity, and his criminal record in deciding to request a K-9 unit.
A K-9 officer with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office arrived and conducted a free-air sniff around the vehicle.
According to police, the K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics, giving officers probable cause to search the vehicle. During the search, officers found two THC vape pens and a live 12-gauge shotgun shell inside the center console.
Officers said that while they were seizing the items and preparing to release Jones with a warning, Jones allegedly tossed a clear plastic bag to the ground. When officers picked up the bag, they discovered four smaller bags containing a white powdery substance.
Police said three of the bags contained a combined total of approximately 2.6 grams of suspected narcotics. Field testing indicated the substance was cocaine and fentanyl.
Further investigation revealed Jones had previous felony convictions, including possession of a stolen handgun and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, making his possession of ammunition illegal under state law.
Jones was charged with trafficking fentanyl, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and multiple drug distribution charges within proximity of a school or park.
He was transported to the Al Cannon Detention Center.
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