LEWISTON-WOODVILLE – A local man was arrested here March 29 for possession of illegal drugs.

Bertie Sheriff John Holley reported that John Dembry Jr. was taken into custody and charged with one count each of possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, and maintaining a vehicle/place/dwelling to keep a controlled substance.

Dembry was jailed under a $15,000 secured bond. He is scheduled to make his initial appearance today (Wednesday) in Bertie County Criminal District Court in Windsor.

Sheriff Holley said that on March 29, Sgt. Martin Phelps with the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office/Down East Drug Task Force and Agent Chase Oliver with the Down East Drug Task Force/Hertford County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop in Lewiston for a traffic violation. The Bertie County Sheriff’s Office and the Down East Drug Task Force have received complaints about Dembry selling illegal narcotics in the Lewiston area.

Agent Oliver and his K9 “Bosch” conducted an open air sniff of Dembry’s vehicle and a positive alert for the presence of narcotics was indicated. A search of the vehicle was conducted and cocaine was located inside.

Chief Herman Purvis with the Lewiston Police Department assisted with the traffic stop by transporting Dembry to the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office.