HAMLET — Police reportedly seized more than a pound of pot following a traffic stop last week.
According to the Hamlet Police Department, officers conducted the stop after observing an unspecified violation on Dec. 22.
Officers reportedly smelled marijuana from the vehicle and the driver, 21-year-old Adrian Franco-Uriostigui, allegedly admitted to the presence of cannabis.
Police searched the vehicle and reportedly found 539 grams of marijuana (19 ounces), unspecified drug paraphernalia, an unspecified quantity of currency and a semi-automatic handgun of unspecified caliber.
Franco-Uriostigui was arrested and charged with one felony count each of possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance and maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance; and one misdemeanor count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and carrying a concealed gun.
Neither the HPD social media post or online court records indicate the defendant was cited for the alleged initial reason for the stop.
He was booked into the Richmond County Jail under a $10,000 secured bond and appears to have since been released. He is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 12, 2023.
Records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction show Franco-Uriostigui was given probation in June when convicted on misdemeanor marijuana possession and paraphernalia charges in Union County.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
