ELLERBE — Three young adults were arrested on meth-related charges early last week — two following a traffic stop; the other during a breaking and entering investigation.
Deputies with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office reportedly stopped a vehicle June 24 on Crawford Road.
According to the sheriff’s office, the subjects — 24-year-old Kelly Denise Smith, of Wadesboro, and 20-year-old Chad Edward Smith, of Hudson Drive in Ellerbe — were “acting out of the ordinary” during the stop and the deputy asked for consent to search the vehicle where he reportedly found a backpack containing meth.
According to warrants, Chad Smith had 20 grams of meth, two glass mirrors, a scale and clear baggies. Kelly Smith allegedly had 3 grams of meth and needles.
Kelly and Chad Smith were arrested and each charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The same day, the sheriff’s office charged 22-year-old Gerald Allen Smith Jr. with possession of methamphetamine in an unrelated case.
Investigators say he was found in an abandoned home on Hudson Drive while deputies were investigating reported break-ins. The arresting deputy reportedly found meth in Gerald Smith’s pocket following a pat down.
Gerald Smith’s warrant had not yet been returned to the Clerk of Superior Court’s office as of late Tuesday afternoon. However, records show he has been appointed an attorney.
Investigators say the meth appears to have been manufactured locally.
Jail records show all three were booked into the Richmond County Jail just before noon on June 24, where they remained Tuesday. Chad and Kelly Smith are being held under a $15,000 secured bond; Gerald Smith is being held under a $5,000 secured bond.
They are scheduled to appear in court July 11.
Court records show Kelly Smith is facing similar charges in Anson County.
She was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia on Dec. 26, 2018; possession of drug paraphernalia on Feb. 8; and possession of methamphetamine, possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of ½ ounce to 1 1/2 ounces of marijuana (the latter two being misdemeanors) on May 20. Her next court appearance on those charges is July 15.
Gerald Smith also has a pending misdemeanor charge of second-degree trespassing in Richmond County from June 11, court records show. His next court date on that charge is July 5.
Records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction show Kelly Smith was convicted in 2016 of felony larceny in Richmond County.
The other two have no previous convictions in the state.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Jail records show there are currently eight inmates facing meth-related charges. All but one has been arrested within the past two weeks.
