Three Individuals Facing Drug Charges Following Traffic Stop

Three individuals were arrested on a variety of drug-related charges when their car was pulled over on March 30, 2014. Among other alleged offenses, a 32-year-old man from Newton, North Carolina was charged with the intent to manufacture a controlled substance, conspiracy and drug trafficking. A 20-year-old woman from Hickory and 36-year old man from Hiddenite were also charged with conspiracy and possession of a controlled substance.

A police officer pulled the vehicle over due to what he reported was a burned-out license plate bulb and what he described as nervous behavior. A search of the vehicle allegedly led to a large knife, a BB gun, hypodermic needles baggies of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia being discovered. All three were jailed and held under bond.

It’s not clear what connection the individuals had with each other. However, in at least the case of the 20-year-old woman, two felony drug charges are being faced. This could potentially mean an extremely long prison sentence.

There are circumstances when such arrests take place that an individual’s constitutional rights have been violated by the conduct of arresting officers. Though it’s not entirely clear what led to the actions being taken by law enforcement officers in this matter, we would hope officers have done more than just pull individuals over for a minor traffic matter before deciding to search a vehicle.

Criminal defense attorneys can make certain that an individual’s rights are not violated during the course of an arrest. In some circumstances this can mean excluding certain evidence from trial. Unfortunately, not every individual arrested understands their rights and may sometimes provide information to law enforcement authorities before first speaking to an attorney.