HAMLET — A man was reportedly caught with cocaine after leading law enforcement on a post-midnight chase.
According to one warrant, an officer with the Hamlet Police Department conducted a traffic stop early Friday morning involving the vehicle of 44-year-old Carlos Maurice Pemberton, of Hamlet.
That warrant does not state the reason for the stop.
Pemberton allegedly took off, hitting the officer in the arm with his vehicle.
Another warrant alleges that Pemberton fled from a deputy with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, driving “in excess of 15 miles per hour over the posted speed limit” on U.S. 74.
Pemberton was allegedly found in possession of an unspecified quantity of cocaine, as well as scales and a straw with a “white powder residue.”
He was arrested and charged with: fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle; felony possession of cocaine; assault on a government official; and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Court records appear to show Pemberton’s vehicle was seized and impounded.
Richmond County Jail records show Pemberton was booked at 3:13 a.m. and held on a combined $15,000 secured bond. He is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 2.
Online court records show Pemberton has the following pending criminal charges, filed by N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement in April: maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance; possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine; manufacturing cocaine; possession of up to a half-ounce of marijuana; possession of marijuana paraphernalia; and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Pemberton was also charged with several traffic violations, including two counts of possession of an open container of alcohol in the passenger area.
Records show Pemberton also has pending traffic citations from the N.C. State Highway Patrol in February.
According to records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction, Pemberton was convicted of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance in both 2002 and 2004. His probation on the first conviction was revoked following the second conviction and he was incarcerated for nearly five months.
Pemberton was convicted of possession of drug paraphernalia in 2008 and again in 2011. The latter conviction also included a charge of resisting an officer.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
