ROCKINGHAM — A near-midnight traffic stop Friday led to an investigator finding more than 250 grams of methamphetamine and other drugs.
According to an incident report, a detective with the Rockingham Police Department was patrolling Mill Road near Hilltop Drive when she noticed a Chevrolet Lumina without a side mirror driving left of center.
The detective conducted a traffic stop at 11:59 p.m. and searched the vehicle, driven by 47-year-old Michael Ray Chavis of Laurinburg, according to the report.
Inside, the detective reportedly found: one bag with 56.9 grams of meth; one bag with 61.7 grams of meth; one bag with 57.2 grams of meth; one bag with 60.6 grams of meth; a medicine bottle with 23.1 grams of meth; and a small bag with 3 grams of meth.
Other drugs listed on the report include: 29 suboxone strips; five pink oval pills; two white oval pills; 50 green oval pills; one white oval pill; and 10 yellow round pills.
The car was seized and impounded. Officers also seized: $2326.06 in U.S. currency; a Samsung Galaxy J7 cellphone; a black and orange book bag; a blue bag “containing several items;” four brown medicine bottles; three discarded syringes; two sets of scales and eight “various items.”
Chavis was arrested and charged with: trafficking in methamphetamine; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver methamphetamine; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance; four counts of maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule III controlled substance; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule VI controlled substance; and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
He is also facing traffic infractions for allegedly driving the wrong way on a dual-lane road and a rear lamp violation.
Chavis was booked into the Richmond County Jail where he remains under a $200,000 secured bond. He is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 15.
Chavis’ criminal record with the N.C. Department of Public Safety shows convictions in three counties since 1990, when he was convicted of misdemeanor breaking and entering in Robeson County.
In 1993, Chavis was convicted in Scotland County on three counts of felony breaking and entering, two counts of larceny over $200, and one count each of common law robbery, assault on a female, driving while impaired and misdemeanor larceny.
Records show he was incarcerated but no dates are listed.
Chavis spent 11 months behind bars when he was convicted in 1998 and 1999 of: two counts of driving with a revoked license; two counts of other misdemeanant; and one count each of speeding, reckless driving, failing to heed a light or siren, and resisting an officer.
Those charges stemmed from incidents 15 days apart in September of 1998, records show.
He was incarcerated from Sept. 20, 2001 to Jan. 16, 2006 after being convicted of: three counts each of felony breaking and entering and larceny after breaking and entering; two counts of larceny of $200; one count each of larceny of dogs, breaking and entering vehicles, speeding to elude arrest, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor larceny.
The drug convictions were in Robeson County, the others in Scotland County.
In 2009, Chavis was convicted of felony breaking and entering and misdemeanor larceny. His probation on those charges was revoked the following year, landing him behind bars for another nine months.
His most recent convictions were in 2014 for being a habitual felon and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance in Richmond County.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
