CERRO GORDO, NC — A speed enforcement stop by the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office Heavy Enforcement Action Team (H.E.A.T.) resulted in multiple criminal charges and the seizure of a concealed firearm on Sunday, Sept. 27.
A H.E.A.T. Team deputy was patrolling near the intersection of Page Mill Road and Blackwell Road in Cerro Gordo when they spotted a dark-colored passenger car traveling at a high rate of speed and driving erratically. The deputy activated blue lights and sirens to perform a traffic stop.
The driver was identified as Christopher Rashane Smith, 36, of Chadbourn.
During the stop, the deputy observed multiple indicators suggesting Smith was under the influence of alcohol. After Smith initially refused roadside impairment tests, he was detained, and deputies conducted a search of his vehicle. The search yielded a concealed handgun and multiple open containers of alcohol.
Smith was taken to the Columbus County Law Enforcement Center in Whiteville, where he voluntarily submitted to a breathalyzer test that confirmed alcohol impairment.
Deputies charged Smith with:
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Driving While Impaired (DWI)
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Carrying a Concealed Gun
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Open Container Alcohol Violation
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Driving Left of Center
Smith was booked into the Columbus County Detention Center under a $2,500 secured bond.
All individuals named in this report are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Charges and case statuses may change as investigations and court proceedings continue.
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