Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Charges in Franklin

Franklin, NC -- March 18, 2022: On Thursday, March 17, Macon County Narcotics Unit detectives from the

MCSO and FPD conducted two simultaneous traffic stops on people suspected of being involved in drug trafficking into the county. Weston Lawrence of Franklin was one of the suspects identified during the inquiry. On Thursday, officers discovered Lawrence waiting near the Macon County Courthouse. Lawrence was said to be waiting for his girlfriend at the courthouse, where she was meeting with her designated Probation Officer.

Officers were conducting surveillance on Lawrence when they noticed him sitting still in the parking lot on a 2000 Yamaha motorcycle. Lawrence did not have a license to lawfully operate any motorcycle, according to detectives. A short time later, the girlfriend returned to Lawrence's location and was seen getting into her car, which was parked adjacent to where Lawrence was seen. During their investigation, detectives discovered that the girlfriend, Toni Brewer, was not legally able
to drive since her North Carolina driver's license had been suspended. Both vehicles drove away from the scene when she got into her car. Lawrence was riding his motorbike away from the Macon County Courthouse when he came to a complete stop at the intersection of Church Street and Harrison Avenue and carried on. On Lawrence and Harrison Avenue, detectives activated their blue lights and conducted a routine traffic stop. A Macon County deputy stopped the girlfriend's vehicle a short distance away, resulting in them being stopped in the parking lot of a nearby bank.
Lawrence quickly gave a statement about being in possession of "dope" when detectives approached the motorbike driver. Detectives then apprehended Lawrence. Lawrence was detained and brought to the Macon County Detention Center for additional investigation after a cursory search revealed he was in possession of an illicit narcotic (dope). Wesley Lawrence was previously charged with Trafficking in Opium or Heroin by Possession, Trafficking in Opium or Heroin by Transportation, and Maintaining a Dwelling of a Controlled Substance before the end of the day, while the investigation progressed. Wesley Lawrence appeared before a magistrate, who imposed a secured bond of $650,000.
Lawrence was found to be in possession of roughly 26 grams of Fentanyl at the time of the traffic stop, a chemical that has been linked to several deaths in Macon County, as well as across the state and country.
The girlfriend's vehicle was stopped by NC Probation and Parole as well as the NC State Highway Patrol. Following the search of her vehicle, a white powdery substance was discovered inside the vehicle, which was seized and will be forwarded to the State Lab for further testing to identify its chemical composition at a later date. It's not unusual for people to have unexplained compounds that don't always test positive for illegal drugs. These unknown compounds are frequently used as a "Cutting Agent" to combine with illegal substances like the Fentanyl found in her boyfriend's possession. Toni Brewer is currently jailed in the Macon County Detention Center, where she is facing just Child Support Contempt charges.

Wnctimes by Marjorie Farrington

*Editor's Note: A criminal charge is an accusation, by law, a person accused of a crime is innocent until proven in a court of law.