ROCKINGHAM — A traffic stop in Rockingham led to felony drug charges and a driving while impaired charge after deputies discovered marijuana and suspected signs of impairment.
Officials said deputies with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle around 10:50 p.m. Saturday on U.S. Highway 1 at Patterson Road after observing the driver fail to maintain his lane of travel.
The driver, Jesse Lee Ingram Jr., showed signs of impairment, including slurred speech and red, glassy eyes. He also admitted to consuming alcohol before driving, they said.
“The North Carolina State Highway Patrol was dispatched to administer field sobriety tests and a breath test,” read a media release posted by the sheriff’s office on social media. “While waiting for the arrival of the Highway Patrol, K-9 Deputy Hunter was deployed and alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle’s driver compartment.”
A search of the vehicle uncovered a gray Adidas bag containing approximately 2.8 ounces of suspected marijuana and a black digital scale.
Ingram was arrested and charged with felony possession of marijuana and felony possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol also charged him with driving while impaired.
Ingram was booked into the Richmond County Jail without bond.