Sheriff’s Office – Queen City News

Stephenson with the seized drugs (Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office)

CALDWELL COUNTY, NC (NEWS FROM QUEEN CITY) — A suspected drug dealer and two other people were arrested after crashing a car and attempting to flee on foot, the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office said.

Investigators said they found that 28-year-old Zachery Stephenson was distributing methamphetamine in Lenoir and Caldwell counties.

On Tuesday, July 16, Stephenson was spotted driving a 2024 Chevrolet on Warren Place in Lenoir despite his license being suspended. Officers stopped the vehicle, but Stephenson drove off as they approached.

Shortly thereafter, Stephenson crashed into a small trailer on Warren Place and he and his two passengers attempted to flee on foot, authorities said.

All three were quickly arrested. In the vehicle, officers found 411.2 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and cash valued at $1,626. The street value of the drugs is said to be $61,650.

Stephenson is being held on $750,000 bail and is charged with:

• Serious trafficking in methamphetamine through possession
• Serious trafficking in methamphetamine by transport
• Serious Crime PWIMSD Methamphetamine
• Serious crime: Maintaining a vehicle for the sale of controlled substances
• Offense: Possession of drug paraphernalia
• Offense of resisting an officer
• Hit and run – hit and run
• Offense: Failure to report an accident
• Offense DWLR – Revocation without impairment
• Offense Reckless driving with endangerment

One of the passengers, 40-year-old Devin Johnson, is charged with two counts of probation violation and resisting an officer. He is being held on $4,500 bail.

The other passenger, 35-year-old Victoria Hennessee, is charged with resisting a public official.

Anyone with information regarding this or any other criminal case is asked to call the Lenoir Police Department at 828-757-2100 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 828-758-8300.