Drug Bust on Maple Street | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    On June 25, 2013, Investigators with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit ended a month long investigation into the distribution of marijuana from Apartment 1223 on Maple St. located in the Quale Ridge Apartment Complex in Washington. The Drug Unit received several complaints about drug activity coming from this residence. Investigators conducted surveillance of the residence and were able to view drug transactions taking place.

    On June 20, 2013, Investigators conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that had left from the apartment. K-9 Elza alerted on the vehicle and a search was conducted. As a result of the search 55 grams of marijuana and a set of digital scales were seized from a passenger in the vehicle identified as William Tarrell Hyman, age 27, of 48 Sunnyland Drive in Washington. William Hyman was charged with Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Hyman was confined under a $40,000 secured bond.



    On June 25, 2013, Investigators in the Drug Unit along with members of the Sheriff’s Office Tactical Response Team executed a search warrant at Apartment 1223 Maple St.in Washington. K-9 Elza was deployed inside of the residence and as a result 236 grams of marijuana prepackaged for resale was seized. Investigators also located digital scales, drug packaging material, $751.00 in US currency, police scanners and a 41 Caliber Smith & Wesson revolver in the residence.



    Investigators arrested the following individuals that were located inside of the residence at the time the search warrant was executed. Charles Eugene Gorham III, age 29, of 1223 Maple St. in Washington, Kenneth Vaughn Smith, age 27, of 587 Barrus Construction Rd. in Greenville, and Jonathan Hopkins, age 32, of 412 Haven St. in Washington. Charles Gorham III was charged with Manufacture/Sell/Deliver/Possess a Controlled Substance Within 1,000 feet of a School, Felony Possession of Marijuana, Felony Maintaining a Dwelling to Facilitate Drug Activity, Possession of a Firearm by Felon and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Kenneth Smith and Jonathan Hopkins were charged with Manufacture/Sell/Deliver/Possess a Controlled Substance Within 1,000 feet of a School and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Gorham was confined under a $25,000 secured bond and Smith and Hopkins were both confined under $15,000 secured bonds.

Click image to enlarge: Above.

    Lt. Joshua Shiflett
      Beaufort County Sheriff's Office