Deputies in Alamance County have filed felony charges against suspects in two traffic stops that took place last week due to alleged “equipment violations.”
According to the office of Alamance County’s sheriff, deputies with the agency’s street crimes unit conducted both of these traffic stops last Tuesday in coordination with a “strike team” that operates under Orange County’s sheriff.
In one instance, a burned-out headlight prompted the sheriff’s street crimes division to pull over Kevon Shawn Dark, a 33-year-old black male of 507 Kernodle Drive, Burlington.
According to the sheriff’s office, the deputies ultimately searched Dark’s vehicle after a trained police dog supposedly picked up the scent of narcotics. The search apparently didn’t turn up any controlled substances, although it did yield a handgun that Dark shouldn’t have had in his possession due to a previous felony conviction.
The sheriff’s office went on to charge Dark with one felony-count of illegal firearm possession by a previously convicted felon. Court records indicate that Dark was later released on a $40,000 bond – only to have his bond revoked and arrest order issued instead when he failed to show up for a court date last Wednesday.
Prior to Dark’s arrest, the sheriff’s street crimes unit also pulled over another vehicle for an unspecified equipment violation. In this case, the deputies who conducted the traffic stop reportedly found probable cause to conduct a search, which produced nearly half a kilo of marijuana and some plastic baggies.
In light of this discovery, the sheriff’s office arrested both the vehicle’s driver – Leopoldo Adrian Vargas– as well as a passenger – Ian Keanu Johnson. Both men are charged with felony-level marijuana possession with the intent to sell or deliver the drug and with the misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
A 26-year-old white male of 524 Homewood Road, Burlington, Vargas is also accused of the illegal possession of Schedule II controlled substance due to a small quantity of Vicodin found on his person. Vargas has also received a citation for driving with a revoked licensed. He has been placed under a $5,000 bond since his arrest.
Meanwhile, Johnson, a 21-year-old black male of 438 Dudley Street, Burlington, has been placed under a $15,000 bond.
