A multi-agency operation has yielded the arrest of a Pinehurst man.

The Pinehurst Police Department’s IMPACT Team and Special Investigations Unit, with the assistance of the Moore County Sheriff’s Office and Aberdeen Police Department, concluded a five-month investigation on April 11th into the sale and distribution of narcotics in the Pinehurst community.

The concluding take down operation resulted in the arrest of Dereck Keenan Taylor of Spring Lake Lane.

Taylor was charged with four counts of trafficking in cocaine, possession of cocaine, felony maintaining a vehicle with controlled substances, two counts of feloniously selling and delivering cocaine, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor child abuse for having a small child in his vehicle during the incidents.

Taylor received a $250,000 secured bond and is currently residing in the Moore County Detention Center awaiting trial.

Additional narcotics-related sale and distribution charges are pending in this investigation.

Because this is a continuing investigation, Pinehurst Police is encouraging anyone who has additional information to contact the department’s tip line at 910-429-1654.

All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.