HAMLET — A Scotland County man allegedly had a tough time talking to a deputy during a traffic stop because he had coke in his mouth — and not the liquid, legal kind.
After seeing a vehicle driving 77 mph in a 55 mph zone on Old Laurinburg Road, outside Hamlet, on Saturday, a deputy conducted a traffic stop, according to a press release from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
When speaking to the driver, 44-year-old Jarvis Omar Smith of Laurel Hill, the deputy reportedly noticed Smith was mumbling and asked if he had anything in his mouth.
When Smith opened his mouth, the deputy reportedly saw a small plastic baggie and told Smith to spit it out, which he did.
During a pat down, Smith reportedly told the deputy that the baggie contained crack cocaine.
Smith was arrested and charged with a single felony count of possession of cocaine and was released on a written promise to appear in court. Online records show his court date is scheduled for Feb. 17.
Records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction show Smith has several previous misdemeanor convictions.
His first was in 2004 for possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance in Cumberland County.
Smith was twice convicted (2009 and 2014) of driving with a revoked license and giving false information to law enforcement in Scotland County.
His most recent conviction was in 2017 for unauthorized use of motor conveyance in Richmond County.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
