AULANDER – It’s not everyday that a person is arrested for possessing soap.

That was the case here earlier this month where Markel Levon Speller, 24, of Aulander was arrested and charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver a counterfeit controlled substance. He was jailed under a $10,000 bond.

The arrest stemmed from a Feb. 3 traffic stop on Main Street in Aulander. There, Aulander Police Officer Brian Knowles noticed the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

According to Aulander Police Chief Jimmy Barmer, Officer Knowles asked the driver for permission to search the vehicle, which was granted. Speller, a back seat passenger, was also searched at which time Knowles discovered soap, broken into smaller pieces, in his pocket. In another pocket, Knowles found plastic baggies.

A further search of the area in which Speller was seated revealed an individual plastic bag containing one, rock-like substance. The bag was consistent with the baggies found in Speller’s possession. Additionally, the substance found in the bag was consistent with the soap discovered in Speller’s pocket.

Upon arrest, Speller was transported to the Bertie Sheriff’s Office in Windsor. There, according to Barmer, he refused to answer any questions (age, address, etc.) as well as refusing to be fingerprinted and photographed. That led to an additional charge of resist, delay and obstruct.

Barmer said restrictions were placed on Speller’s bond. He is required to provide all information and be fingerprinted and photographed prior to his release on bail.

Barmer said he wanted to commend Officer Knowles for his attention to detail, which led to the arrest.