Detectives from the Southern Pines Police Department were working on a case which led them to a home located on Tray Street in Southern Pines on Thursday, October 19th, according to a news release from the police department.
The detectives approached a vehicle that had a strong order of marijuana coming from the car. As the occupant of the car, Shalijwaan Ris Smith, stepped from the vehicle, a large bag of marijuana fell from his lap, and the officers observed Smith had been sitting inside the vehicle concealing under his buttocks a loaded .40 caliber Smith and Wesson semi-automatic firearm.
Detectives then requested the assistance of the Patrol Division from the Southern Pines Police Department, Probation/Parole Officers from the NC Department of Public Safety, Division of Adult Correction, and Juvenile Justice. A search warrant was subsequently executed on the home on Tray Street, according to Cheif Bob Temme.
Law enforcement agencies recovered from this investigation 84 grams of marijuana, 9 grams of cocaine, a stolen SWD M11/9 firearm along with a 30 round magazine, a 100 round drum magazine, and a silencer. Multiple rounds of ammunition were found to be hidden in air vents located throughout the home as well, according to the news release.
While searching the residence, officers located a 17-year-old male who reported to the Southern Pines Police Department days earlier that he was shot by an unknown individual, and he refused to cooperate with any police investigation. It was determined by the detectives that the male accidentally shot himself in the Lowes Food parking lot on Morganton Road in Southern Pines and was not shot by an unknown suspect. The police recovered the .22 caliber semi-automatic firearm from the accidental self-inflicted injury. The firearm had an altered serial number.
From the investigation, Immanuel Jarie Brown and Shalijwaan Ris Smith were arrested, according to the release.
Brown, 21, from Southern Pines, was charged with Possession with Intent to Sell/Deliver Marijuana, Maintaining a Dwelling for Controlled Substances, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of a Stolen Firearm.
Smith, 23, from Southern Pines, was charged with Possession with Intent to Sell/Deliver Marijuana, Maintaining a Vehicle for Controlled Substances, and Carrying a Concealed Handgun.
Brown was jailed under a $150,000 bond and is currently on probation following a conviction for possessing a stolen firearm along with possessing narcotics.
Smith was jailed under a $75,000 bond and is currently awaiting trial for a prior offense of possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, drug charges, and has a past conviction for possessing a stolen firearm, according to arrest records.
“This investigation is active and ongoing and additional arrests are anticipated. The Southern Pines Police Department will also be working closely with Federal Law Enforcement agencies pursuing federal charges/prosecution in this investigation,” said Cheif Temme. “Please join me in acknowledging and thanking all the officers involved in this investigation. The bravery and unwavering commitment to our law abiding citizens displayed by these officers is worthy of praise from the entire community. Thank a police officer today, it makes a difference.”
Feature photo(L,R): Immanuel Jarie Brown and Shalijwaan Ris Smith
