The Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office arrested three people on Thursday on drug related charges following an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office.

“This investigation has been ongoing for several weeks and will now continue after the arrest, “Marlboro County Sheriff, Fred Knight said.

Larry Wayne Douglas, Hwy. 38, Bennettsville, was arrested for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of crack cocaine, assault with intent to kill, assault and battery of high and aggravated nature and possession of a firearm by persons unlawful. Dominique Moore, Hwy. 38, Bennettsville, was arrested for possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Nicholas J. Williams, Hwy. 38, Bennettsville, was arrested for possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of crack cocaine.

The Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office had two groups of officers in this investigation, one group arrested Douglas and Williams on a traffic stop and the second group executed a search warrant at a residence in Bennettsville belonging to Moore and Douglas.

The traffic stop resulted in the seizure of five pounds of marijuana that was found in the vehicle and on their persons.

Williams was also charged with possession of crack cocaine.

Douglas was arrested on assault charges and a gun charge from an unrelated criminal investigation that occurred at a night club on Old Wire Road in Wallace, S.C.

Moore was at the residence at the time of the search and was charged with having over four pounds of marijuana at the residence.

Moore was a correctional officer at Lanesboro Correctional in Polkton.

The marijuana at both locations appeared to be from the same group of distributors based on similar packaging.

When Douglas was booked into the county jail, he was found to be in possession of crack cocaine and additionally charged.

“It has been one of my goals as Sheriff to intercept large quantities of illegal narcotics coming into Marlboro County before they are able to be distributed. We were successful this time.”

Bond hearings were expected on begin on Oct. 23.

n Staff writer Bryan Stewart can be reached at 997-3111 ext. 15, or by e-mail at bstewart@yourdailyjournal.com