ROCKINGHAM — A man is facing multiple drug charges after allegedly being caught with crack cocaine during a traffic stop.
According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, deputies with the Traffic Safety Division and investigators with the Community Impact Team pulled over 51-year-old Rodney Edward Wall, of Hamlet, on Friday, Sept. 15.
The press release issued Monday does not list the reason for the initial traffic stop at the intersection of Lakeview Trail and Martin Street in East Rockingham.
A deputy approaching the vehicle reportedly saw Wall “attempting to hide a pill bottle in the center console.”
Wall was asked to step out of the vehicle and investigators reportedly found crack cocaine inside the bottle.
According to the sheriff’s office,Wall had outstanding warrants for arrest in connection to a drug investigation on Fayetteville Street in Hamlet.
Wall was arrested and charged with: three counts of possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver cocaine; felony possession of cocaine; maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance; and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was booked into the Richmond County Jail where he was still being held Tuesday evening on a $100,000 secured bond.
Online court records show Wall is also charged with three additional counts of possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver cocaine — as well as two counts of driving with a revoked license — from this year.
Wall is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 28 on all drug related charges.
Records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction show Wall was first convicted in 1994 of selling a Schedule II controlled substance. He was sentenced to prison and while his actual release date is not listed, his projected release date was January of 1996.
Wall was convicted in August of 1996 of driving while license revoked and reckless driving in Richmond County, and the following year of driving with a revoked license in Anson County.
His most recent conviction was in 2021 on two counts of selling a Schedule II controlled substance; and one count each of possession with intent to sell a Schedule II controlled substance and maintaining any place for a controlled substance. He was given a suspended sentence in those judgements.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
