Robbins Police Department conducted multiple traffic stops in January, resulting in arrests and the removal of drugs from the streets.
“We want people to know what we’re doing,” said Robbins Police Chief Ben Haddock. “We want people to know we’re working and not to bring drugs into Robbins.”
On Jan. 7, an officer on Highway 705, near Hemp Street, made a traffic stop and charged the driver of the vehicle, Devine Barrett, of Eagle Springs, with:
*Felony possession of heroin;
*Felony trafficking opium or heroin;
*Felony possession with intent to manufacture/deliver/sell schedule I controlled substance;
*Felony identity theft;
*Misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia;
*Misdemeanor resisting a public officer; and
*Misdemeanor breaking or entering.
Moore County Sheriff’s Office also arrested Barrett during a traffic stop in March 2019 on drug charges. You can read that article here: https://sandhillssentinel.com/local-man-arrested-after-traffic-stop-leads-to-drug-bust/
On Jan. 15, Chief Haddock conducted a traffic stop. After coming to a stop, the driver fled on foot. The driver, Joel Prentice Jr., 41, was arrested and is currently booked in the Horry County Detention Center in South Carolina, waiting to be transported back to Moore County. You can read more about that story here: https://sandhillssentinel.com/suspect-flees-after-car-chase/
On Jan. 23, Lieutenant Dunlap was involved in a foot chase with Christoper Hamilton, 45, of Robbins. They arrested and charged Hamilton with:
*Felony possession of methamphetamine;
*Felony manufacture/sell/deliver/possess controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school;
*Felony possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver schedule II controlled substance;
*Two counts of misdemeanor resisting public officer;
*Two counts of misdemeanor assault of government official/employee;
*Misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia; and
*Misdemeanor injury to real property.
Hamilton is the only Robbins resident arrested on drug charges in January. All other arrests were of suspects passing through Robbins.
On Jan. 25, officers conducted a routine traffic stop. With cause, officers searched the vehicle and then arrested three people.
Driver, Payton Neal, 26, of Seagrove, was charged with:
*Possession of methamphetamine;
*Possession of drug paraphernalia;
*Driving while license revoked; and
*Failure to notify DMV of address change.
Passenger, Thomas Garner, 28, of Seagrove, was charged with:
*Felony possession of methamphetamine; and
*Possession of drug paraphernalia.
The second passenger, Luis Penaloza-Salgado, 26, listed as homeless, was charged with:
*Possession of methamphetamine;
*Possession of drug paraphernalia; and
*Possession of an open container of alcohol in the passenger area.
Defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel reporter Curtis Self.
