On Thursday last week, K9 Deputy Richardson with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office while working THSO was patrolling on I-40 East when Deputy Blake Richardson observed a 2000 white Cadillac Escalade with heavily tinted windows, constituting a tint violation. The deputy couldn’t see inside the vehicle to ensure the driver was wearing his seatbelt.

While waiting for a safe location to conduct a traffic stop, Richardson saw the vehicle cross the fog line twice, failing to maintain his lane. The deputy activated his emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop on the ramp of 311 Eastbound. The vehicle would travel a bit and stop at Lucky Stop gas station parking lot.

The deputy made a passenger-side approach, and identified the driver as James Mercer who is described in the deputy’s report as ‘very obviously distraught.’ Deputy Richardson says he smelled marijuana and advised Mercer why he conducted the traffic stop. His seat was leaned back and the passenger seat was leaned slightly forward, as he was messing with an item in his hands and his hands went out of view several times.

Deputy Richardson told him multiple times to keep his hands visible and asked if there were any weapons in the vehicle, to which Mercer stated no. Although Mercer would later say there was a rifle in the back, but not anymore, and admitted to a handgun in the back of the passenger seat.

The deputy ordered him to exit the vehicle, then walked Mercer back to his patrol car and noticed he was concealing something in his hand. He handed the deputy a silver cylinder container that he stated had some ‘nasty stuff’, which the deputy reasoned to be narcotics based on prior experience.

Mercer was detained at that time.

Inside the container was Methamphetamine, and Mercer admitted he had Marijuana in a bag. A probable cause search of the vehicle turned up Marijuana in the front passenger side of the vehicle in a bag weighing approximately 8.26 grams, a pipe commonly used to smoke Marijuana and a grinder, 1.36 grams of Meth on the floorboard and under the seat, and a loaded Taurus G3C.

Mercer was read his Miranda rights, and he admitted to having a meth pipe stuffed inside his pants in his groin area. He would also admit to to destroying the narcotics because he was very nervous. Richardson advised him destroying evidence was a felony and to never reach towards a weapon while speaking to a police officer.

Mercer was arrested, searched, and transported to the Cumberland County Jail and charged with Possession of marijuana; man, del, sell or possession of meth, possession of a firearm while committing a felony, tampering with evidence, and possession of drug paraphernalia.