HAMLET — A weekend traffic stop by the Hamlet Police Department resulted in a drug bust.
According to a social media post, officers working traffic on Dec. 17 saw a vehicle traveling east on U.S. 74 with an unspecified violation.
When officers approached the vehicle, they reportedly noticed open alcohol containers and smelled marijuana.
During a search of the vehicle, officers reportedly found 11 grams of marijuana (less than half an ounce), 23 ecstasy pills and Sprite mixed with the cough medicine promethazine with codeine — known as “lean” or “sizzurp” — and “multiple items of drug paraphernalia.”
Police say Michael C. Cole admitted possession and he was arrested and charged with: possession of a Schedule I controlled substance; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver marijuana; and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The post states that two other men, Robert Barrett and Lloyd Jones, were arrested “for other various charges.”
The post does not list the ages of any of the defendants or indicate where they are from, nor does it list bond amounts.
It appears all three defendants had made bail by Monday afternoon, as they did not appear in online records with the Richmond County Jail.
Cole did not appear in online court records on Monday afternoon. However, records did show that both Barrett and Jones are scheduled to appear in court Jan. 5, 2023 on misdemeanor charges of simple possession of a schedule VI controlled substance and possession of marijuana paraphernalia.
Records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety show a Robert Barrett with the same birth month and day (online court records don’t include year) has three prior convictions in Union County: misdemeanor breaking and entering and misdemeanor larceny (2006); and delivering or selling a Schedule VI controlled substance.
Neither Cole nor Jones appear to have prior convictions in North Carolina.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
