Ray ‘treated’ to drug arrest

Published 11:20 am Saturday, November 7, 2009

AULANDER – Halloween night wasn’t a “treat” for one Aulander man.

Jack Dempsey Ray, 35, of 202 Chestnut Street was charged with three felony drug counts – possession with intent to sale and deliver cocaine, possession with intent to sale and deliver marijuana and maintaining a vehicle to keep a controlled substance.

Bond was set at $75,000 secured.

Aulander Police Officer Jimmy Barmer, who made the arrest, said he was on routine patrol at around 8 p.m. on Oct. 31. Barmer said he was traveling down Elm Street and was near its intersection with Chestnut Street when he heard loud music coming from a vehicle.

“I noticed a person (later identified as Ray) standing at passenger’s door of the vehicle,” Barmer said. “I activated the blue light on my vehicle, at which time I noticed him (Ray) throw a plastic bag inside the car on the passenger’s side. He then entered the vehicle and sat in front passenger’s seat.”

Officer Barmer said he approached the vehicle and saw the bag in plain view lying on the floorboard of the vehicle. He said it appeared to contain a green leafy substance consistent with marijuana.

“I ask the passenger to hand me the plastic bag he had just thrown on the floor,” Barmer said. “That bag contained seven separate bags containing what appeared to be marijuana and I placed him under arrest for possession of marijuana.”

Subsequent to the arrest, Barmer stated that Ray handed him a bag containing a white powder substance believed to be cocaine. Barmer added that the bag was on Ray’s person.

That led to the cocaine charge.

Ray was transported to the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office where Barmer, along with BCSO Sgt. Charlie Harmon, processed the arrestee and then transported him to the Bertie-Martin Regional Jail.

“On trick or treat night while our young people of Aulander were out enjoying themselves, someone else was out spreading poison,” Barmer said. “We still have a zero tolerance for drug dealers in Aulander.”