AHOSKIE – The newly formed Hertford County Narcotics Task Force arrested two individuals here earlier this week on charges of possession of a controlled substance.

Major Jimmy Asbell, of the Ahoskie Police Department, stated that complaints from citizens sparked an investigation into &uot;suspicious&uot; actions in and around room 249 of the Tomahawk Motel on Academy Street.

After surveillance of the area, Det. Jeremy Roberts obtained a search warrant that would eventually lead to finding what officers believed to be both marijuana and crack cocaine.

&uot;When we arrived on the scene with the search warrant, we found the room occupied by James Edward Major Jr. and Shotell Danyell Taylor,&uot; Asbell stated.

&uot;Upon further search, found what we believed to be approximately 28 dosage units, or hits, of crack cocaine on the Taylor subject,&uot; he said.

&uot;We found approximately 2 grams of what we believed to be marijuana on Major as well as finding approximately 12 grams of what we believed to be crack cocaine, which we determined to be long also to Major,&uot; Asbell stated.

Major, 26, with the only provided address being that of the motel, was charged with possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine; possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana; and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was placed in Hertford County Jail under a $46,000 secured bond.

Taylor, 27, of 606 East Baker St., Ahoskie, was charged with possession with intent to sell or deliver crack cocaine, maintaining a dwelling to keep or store a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was placed in Hertford County Jail under a $51,000 secured bond.

&uot;I want to acknowledge the work of Det. Roberts, Hertford County deputies Will Liverman and Brian Pierce,&uot; Asbell said. &uot;They were assigned to the case and did an outstanding job in both the surveillance work and in their professionalism handing the case.

&uot;I also want to acknowledge the work of Officer Andres Snape who, because of his persistence, was the person who actually uncovered the bulk of the substance we believe to be cocaine.

&uot;Without that extra push we would certainly not have been as successful,&uot; he said.