ROCKINGHAM — A man and woman are facing charges after a K-9 reportedly alerted to narcotics.
According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, investigators with the Community Impact Team witnessed 33-year-old William Blake Callahan, of Rockingham, make a drug transaction in the parking lot of a store on Roberdel Road on Friday, May 31.
Callahan allegedly ran through the red light after leaving the store.
Investigators reportedly conducted a traffic stop and found that 33-year-old Meredith Michaela Chappell was a passenger in the vehicle.
While investigators were speaking to Callahan, RCSO K-9 Hunter reportedly sniffed around the vehicle “and positively alerted to the presence of narcotics.”
The vehicle was searched and investigators reportedly found a black bag between the driver and passenger seats containing:
- a Taurus 9mm handgun
- a set of digital scales
- 14.6 grams of fentanyl
- 5 grams of methamphetamine
- 3 grams of cocaine
- 10 dosage units of Roxicodone
- 6 dosage units of Xanax
- $545
Callahan was arrested and charged with: trafficking opium or heroin; trafficking methamphetamine; possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine; possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance; possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule IV controlled substance; felony possession of Schedule II controlled substance; carrying a concealed gun; and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to the sheriff’s office, Callahan was booked into the Richmond County Jail and held without bond, however he did not appear in online jail records on June 3.
Chappell was charged with maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance and jailed on a $5,000 secured bond. Records appear to show she has been released.
Both are scheduled to appear in court on those charges June 13.
Online court records show Callahan was scheduled to appear in court June 3 on misdemeanor charges of assault on a female and communicating threats, as well as two probation violations.
Records show Chappell and Callahan each have the following pending drug-related charges in Superior Court from last year: two counts of possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance; possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine; possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule III controlled substance; possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine; possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana; felony possession of marijuana; maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance; possession of drug paraphernalia. ‘
Other pending charges for Callahan include: possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance; possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine; possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule IV controlled substance; simple possession of a Schedule III controlled substance; possession of drug paraphernalia; and breaking and entering.
Both Callahan and Chappell also have several pending traffic violations.
Chappell was previously convicted in 2014 of misdemeanor larceny, according to records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction. Callahan has no prior convictions in the state.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
