A traffic stop in Bennettsville, South Carolina led to the arrest of two individuals on drug-related charges. According to Marlboro County Chief Deputy Larry Turner, an officer observed a suspicious exchange between a man and the driver of a parked car in front of a business.
The officer reported that the man handed the driver cash, and in return, the driver provided an item. Upon activating his blue lights and approaching the vehicle, the officer noticed a bag containing a large sum of money and another bag with an unidentified substance. The man inside the car, later identified as Demond Dominique Samuel, attempted to conceal the substance in a purple bag.
Upon further investigation, the officer requested that the driver, identified as Janiyha Townsend, turn off the vehicle and hand over the keys.
Both Townsend and Samuel were arrested and charged with multiple offenses. Townsend faces charges of trafficking crack cocaine, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, unlawful neglect of a child, and simple possession of marijuana. Samuel is charged with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, being a felon in possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and unlawful neglect of a child.
The two are currently being held at the Marlboro County Detention Center, awaiting their bond hearings. The investigation remains ongoing as law enforcement continues to investigate the case.
