ROCKINGHAM — A newly trained K9 and handler for the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office scored a drug bust not long after graduating.
Detective Josh Haley and his K9 partner Hunter, a German shorthaired pointer, completed their 120 hours of training for certification in narcotics detection through Ventosa Kennel in Scotland Neck and graduated on Friday morning, according to a social media post through the sheriff’s office.
Hunter is RCSO’s fifth K9. The department also has three bloodhounds and a Belgian Malinois trained as a multi-purpose working dog, according to Chief Deputy Jay Childers.
When the pair returned to Rockingham that afternoon, they were reportedly called out to assist patrol deputies in an incident “where narcotics were suspected.”
According to the sheriff’s office, Hunter alerted on a vehicle where deputies found an unspecified quantity of fentanyl.
Deputies arrested 45-year-old Christopher Eugene Quick and charged him with: two counts of possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance; maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance; and possession of drug paraphernalia.
(Note: Jail records show two counts of PWIMSD, but online court records show one count of PWIMSD and one count of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance.)
Richmond County Jail records show Quick is also charged with crime of domestic violence and assault with a deadly weapon. He is being held on a combined $30,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court March 21 on the drug charges and April 15 on the domestic violence charges.
Online court records show Quick has pending charges of: possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine; possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine; possession of a firearm by a felon; possession of up to a half-ounce of marijuana; and indecent exposure.
Quick also has pending charges in Montgomery County Superior Court of identity theft, obtaining property by false pretenses, and financial card fraud.
Quick was convicted in 2003 of common law robbery and felony conspiracy in Scotland County, then in 2004 of larceny of firearms in Richmond County.
His probation was revoked, and another charge added, in 2005 and Quick spent nearly two years behind bars. While serving the sentence, Quick was convicted of driving while license revoked.
In 2008, Quick was convicted of felony breaking and entering, and received a suspended sentence. It should be noted that Quick appears to have been in prison on the listed offense date.
Quick’s probation was revoked when he was convicted in 2009 on six counts of felony breaking and entering and two counts of larceny from the person, resulting in an 18-month incarceration.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
