At 1:30 p.m. Friday, Halifax County Sheriff's Office narcotics agents arrested two people at Weldon's Community House, a problem area at 209 Ransome Circle, for cocaine sales.
Between 9 and 10 that night, the sheriff's office was getting reports sales had reportedly cranked up again, Lieutenant Anzell Harris said.
This is the second event that has happened at the house this month, the Weldon Police Department continuing to investigate a drive-by shooting that occurred the evening of February 11, and one that could be tied to a similar shooting in Garysburg.
Weldon Police Chief Mark Macon said this afternoon the drug bust Friday by the sheriff's office adds fuel to an effort to declare the house a nuisance. “It adds on historically to what has been discovered before.”
One of the people arrested Friday during a light drizzle of rain, was Ruth Bradley Hampton, 74, who was at the house the night of the drive-by, Macon said.
“She told us she goes to cook for family,” Harris said of Hampton. “I think she is just holding. I don't think she deals from the residence. I've seen her at the residence before.”
Nevertheless, Harris said in a statement, Agent D.C. Dickens arrested and charged Hampton, of Weldon, for possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, felony possession of cocaine, and maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance.
She received a $20,000 secured bond and has a March 5 court date.
The raid was based on several citizen complaints and suspected narcotics activity reports about possible drug sales and other activities taking place at the residence. “We just opened the case,” Harris said. “We began getting complaints in November of last year.”
Dickens applied for a search warrant and, it was granted.
Narcotics agents, detectives, the Hazardous Entry and Arrest Team, and the Weldon Police Department executed the search warrant as two people were outside under the carport, and five people were inside — three women and two young men.
During the execution of the search warrant approximately 16.9 grams of crack cocaine and several items of drug paraphernalia were seized. Street value of the crack cocaine is approximately $800.
Lynch
Arrested along with Hampton was 19-year-old Todd Chounard Lynch of Roanoke Rapids, who faces a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Harris said Lynch reportedly told investigators he was at the wrong place at the wrong tome. He was given a $1,000 secured bond and also has a March 5 court date.
Harris said the raid will be adding to the growing file of events that have occurred at the Community House and confirmed, along with Macon, there is a joint investigation of the residence, that also includes help from the Garysburg Police Department.
Macon said the child who was shot in the drive-by is out of the hospital and doing well. There is still no established motive in the shooting, he said.
Harris said Dickens will continue to follow up on drug complaints at this residence.
Citizens are encouraged to call the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Line at 252 583-2282 to report drug activity in their area.