An interrupted text message was apparently the least of one motorist’s worries when he was pulled over in the town of Haw River this week with what law enforcement officials believe was an illegal cargo of cannabis.
Nicholas Keisler Steele was ultimately stopped by a sheriff’s deputy who reportedly spotted him texting while driving along the US 70 Bypass on Tuesday afternoon.
According to the office of Alamance County’s sheriff, the 29-year-old black male, who resides at 1250 Ephesus Church Road in Chapel Hill, was also following another vehicle too closely when he attracted the deputy’s notice at 4:23 p.m. Yet, these two infractions were all but forgotten when a departmental canine allegedly picked up the aroma of contraband, which led to an immediate search of Steele’s vehicle.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies went on to discover about 220 grams of “suspected marijuana” inside the car, along with a handgun and various items of presumed drug paraphernalia.
The sheriff’s office has consequently charged Steele with a felony-level count of marijuana possession with the intent to sell, manufacture, or distribute the drug. He also faces two misdemeanor violations for carrying an illegally concealed handgun and the possession of drug paraphernalia.
Court records indicate that no traffic infractions, such as texting while driving, were filed during Tuesday’s traffic stop.
Steele has been released from jail under a $5,000 bond.
