The Roanoke Rapids Police Department reported the following, according to Chief Bobby Martin:
On Tuesday shortly before 7:45 p.m. Officer N. Powell responded to the Cook Out parking lot on a vehicle collision call.
Powell talked with both drivers and detected the strong odor of alcohol on one of them — Arturo Ortiz, 26, of the Roanoke Rapids area.
Ortiz, who Martin said caused the collision, was taken into custody under suspicion of DWI and driving while license revoked. He was charged with both crimes.
He received a $1,000 bond and March 25 court date.
Officer D. Newsome and Lieutenant J. Baggett assisted.
On Tuesday shortly before 1 p.m. Narcotics Agent C. Batchelor received information on a bogus prescription which was called into a local pharmacy for Xanax.
Officer K. Williams, Detective N. Bankert, and Master Officer S. Langley responded when a person later identified as Christopher Stamps, 32, arrived to get the prescription.
Stamps, of Emporia, was detained pending further investigation which determined the prescription was fraudulent.
Batchelor arrested Stamps and took him before a magistrate. He was charged with obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. He received a $2,500 bond and March 15 court date.
On Tuesday shortly before 7:30 p.m. Officer D. Harrison was patrolling in the area of Julian R. Allsbrook Highway when he observed a motor vehicle violation.
Harrison conducted a traffic stop in the 1200 block of Roanoke Avenue.
Harrison noted the strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle as he spoke to the driver, who was identified as Steven Decker, 31, of the Roanoke Rapids area.
With assistance from Officer C. Roberts, 58 grams of individually wrapped marijuana was located in an ice cream box in the center console.
Decker was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver marijuana, and possession of marijuana paraphernalia.
He received a $3.000 bond and March 18 court date.
“The Roanoke Rapids Police Department encourages citizens to contact us when they see suspected drug activity or other crimes,” Martin said. “We can make this a safe community together.”
