ST. JOHN – A routine traffic stop ended as anything but here Friday evening.

Hertford County Sheriff’s Deputy William Stroud made a traffic stop of a vehicle at the intersection of N.C. 561 and the Jim Hardy Road at approximately 7:22 p.m. Friday.

According to Sheriff Juan Vaughan, Deputy Stroud was checking the information provided by the driver when the subject started running with something in his hands.

Stroud chased the suspect and apprehended him before calling for assistance. Upon being searched, crack cocaine, cocaine and marijuana were found on Ashonte Bush, 32, of Jenkins Mill Road in Conway. Deputies also found $56,256 in cash on the suspect.

He was charged with seven felony counts and five misdemeanors in relations to the incident.

According to Vaughan, Bush was charged with the following counts:

* trafficking in cocaine by possession;

* trafficking in crack cocaine by possession;

* trafficking in crack cocaine by transportation;

* possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine;

* possession with intent to sell and deliver crack cocaine;

* maintaining a vehicle to keep or store a controlled substance;

* manufacture of crack cocaine;

* possession of drug paraphernalia;

* resist, obstruct and delay of an officer;

* driving while license revoked;

* simple possession of marijuana; and

* possession of an open container in the passenger area of a vehicle.

Bush was placed in the Hertford County Jail under a $765,000 secured bond. His first appearance is scheduled today (Tuesday).

Vaughan commended Stroud, along with assisting officers Maj. Tim Lassiter, Capt. Marty Davis, Lt. Will Liverman, Sgt. Jesse Fennell and Deputy Leon Eason, for a job well done.

“This is another effort to slow down the sale of drugs in Hertford County,” Vaughan said. “I appreciate the work of our officers in getting this person off the street.”