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UNION — What began as a traffic stop for speeding ended with four men in jail on drug charges.

Daniel Rodelle Gallman, 23, 175 Industrial Park Road, #1B, Union; Christopher Rashawn Jeter, 18, 120 Horseshoe Circle, Union; James Stanley Holmes, 20, 205 Lawson Avenue, Union; and Shaquille O’Bryant Barber, 18, 120 Dover Road, Jonesville, were each charged by the Union County Sheriff’s Office with possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

The incident report stated that shortly before 4 a.m. Sunday, a deputy was patrolling the intersection of Furman Fendley Highway and Highpoint Road when he saw a white car with a loud muffler and tinted windows traveling toward Union at a high rate of speed. The deputy stopped the vehicle at the intersection Furman Fendley Highway and Toney Road.

The driver of the vehicle was Barber who was described by the report as being nervous. When the deputy told him why he’d been stopped, Barber said he was going a little fast.

While talking to Barber, the deputy smelled marijuana coming from the car. He then asked Barber to step out of the car and asked him if there was anything in it. Barber said no and gave the deputy permission to search the car. The deputy then had Gallman, Jeter and Holmes get out of the car while he searched it.

The search turned up a black bag halfway under the seat in the back floorboard. When he opened the bag, the deputy found a digital scale and a plastic container containing a large amount of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. The deputy then asked Barber, Gallman, Jeter and Holmes who the bag belonged to and they said they didn’t know. All four were then arrested for possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

A subsequent search of the car’s trunk turned up a box containing a purple bag which contained two large bags containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. The deputy also found a box of sandwich bags and $380 in the front pocket of the purple bag. These items were seized as evidence along with the items found in the back floorboard.

The deputy also seized $1,473 Barber had in his possession. The reported stated the money was seized because Barber is unemployed and was in close proximity to the drugs.

Another $70 was seized from Gallman because he is also unemployed and was in close proximity to the drugs.

The deputy was advised by the K-9 unit that the drug dog had smelled drug residue on all the money seized.

Another Drug Arrest

JONESVILLE — A report of an automobile accident led to a Joensville man being arrested on drug and traffic charges last week.

Thomas James Scarborough, 20, 345 New Hope Church Road, Jonesville, was charged by the sheriff’s office with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and by the S.C. Highway Patrol with speeding.

The incident report stated that a deputy was dispatched just before 3:30 a.m. Saturday to the 600 block of Jonesville-Lockhkart Highway in reference to an automobile accident. When he arrived, the deputy was met by Scarborough who said a deer had jumped in front of his car causing his to run off the road and hit a mailbox.

Scarborough then got back in his car only to be told by the deputy to get back out and sit on the ground until the S.C. Highway Patrol arrived.

The report described Scarborough as being nervous and constantly putting his hand in his pockets while waiting for the highway patrol. The deputy then asked Scarborough to take his hands out of his pockets and when he did a small bag of marijuana fell out. When asked if he had any marijuana, Scarborough pulled out two more bags and $440 in cash.

The three bags of marijuana had a combined weight of 2.5 grams.

Scarborough was arrested, but was taken to the emergency room at Wallace Thomson Hospital by the Union County EMS.

Arrests

The following persons were arrested by the sheriff’s office.

Fredericus Levar Smith, 35, 104 Charlesworth Ave., Union, charged Sunday with disregarding a stop sign and driving under suspension.

Ernest Maurice Gregory, 46, 1303 Jonesville-Lockhart Highway, #4, Union, charged Sunday with public drunk.

Christopher Allen Clark, 24, 200 Francis Ave., Union, charged Saturday with driving under suspension and disregarding a stop sign.

Milford Cartlon Jeter, 37, 208 May St., Union, charged Friday with unlawful turning, hit and run, and violation of beginner’s permit.

Editor Charles Warner can be reached at 864-427-1234, ext. 14, or by email at cwarner@heartlandpublications.com.