ROCKINGHAM — A 26-year-old Asheboro woman was arrested after deputies with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office reported finding heroin and drug paraphernalia during an investigation at the Richmond County Judicial Center parking area.
According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were conducting duties in the public vehicular parking area at the Judicial Center on South Lee Street on July 16 when they observed a woman inside a vehicle using what was later determined to be an illegal controlled substance with a hypodermic syringe.
Deputies approached the vehicle and identified the woman as Whitney Marie Smith, 26, of Asheboro. Smith was taken into custody without incident, according to the sheriff’s office.
The sheriff’s office said deputies later conducted a search of the vehicle and found several additional hypodermic syringes and several grams of heroin.
Smith was brought before a Richmond County magistrate and charged with one count of felony trafficking in opium or heroin and one count of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
She was processed and placed in the Richmond County Jail under a $100,000 secured bond, according to the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Mark Gulledge commended deputies involved in the investigation.
“I want to personally commend our patrol deputies and our Judicial Security personnel for their outstanding awareness, teamwork, and professionalism,” Sheriff Gulledge said.