NEWBERRY COUNTY — Two North Carolina men were arrested last Wednesday following a traffic stop on S.C. 121 near Frye Road between Newberry and Whitmire.
Jonathan Nathaniel Gayle, 18, of 311 Thompson Court in Indian Trail, N.C., was charged with carrying a pistol unlawfully and three counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute heroin, and possession of meth.
James D Murphy, 26, of 6025 Pine Bark Court in Charlotte, N.C., was charged with carrying a pistol unlawfully, three counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute heroin, and possession of meth. Murphy was also charged with no driver’s license, no proof of insurance, and operating a vehicle with a no license plate.
Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster said in a press release that deputies were called around 10 p.m. Aug. 24 to help a Trooper with the S.C. Highway Patrol with a traffic stop.
Deputies searched the suspects’ vehicle and found .2 grams of black tar heroin, .5 grams of heroin, three pills of ecstasy, three pills of Xanax, several pills of buprenorphine hydrochloride (a semisynthetic opioid), and 3.5 grams of crystal meth.
The officers also found digital scales and other drug paraphernalia in the car. The suspects also had a Beretta .22-caliber pistol in the pocket of the driver’s side door.
“It is clear that these men intended to both use and sell these illegal drugs,” said Foster. “They were armed and carrying dangerous drugs. While we do not know for certain where their intent was to go with these drugs, it is clear that we are all safer with these suspects in custody and these extremely dangerous drugs removed from our community.”