Five people are behind bars after two investigations resulted in multiple narcotics charges — including an alleged drug deal while a baby was in a vehicle with the dealers.
On Thursday, the narcotics division of the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office arrested four people after an undercover detective set up a pre-arranged narcotics transaction in the N.C. 11 North area. When the quartet arrived for the deal, the detective saw a small infant in the vehicle with them.
After the narcotics transaction was completed — which included a seizure of 50 Percocet pills (an amount that results in a trafficking charge) — the four subjects were taken into custody without incident. LCSO Maj. Ryan Dawson told The Free Press the child was turned over to the child protective division of the Lenoir County Department of Social Services.
“It’s bad enough when someone engages in the illegal sale of narcotics,” Lenoir County Sheriff Chris Hill expressed in a press release. “It’s far worse to bring an infant along for the ride and expose that infant to the dangers of this illicit business. Thank God nothing went awry during the arrest.”
These four were arrested and confined in the Lenoir County Jail:
Shawn Michael Foskey, 29, of 400-D Verdant Dr., Greenville. He was charged with trafficking opium or heroin. Foskey was issued a $500,000 secured bond.
David Earl Everette, 39, of 347 Old River Road, Greenville. He was charged with trafficking opium or heroin; he also had two outstanding orders for arrest from Pitt County. He was issued a $505,500 secured bond.
Tosha Staton, 40, of 1124 Bonner Street, Washington. She was arrested and charged with trafficking opium or heroin and misdemeanor child abuse. Staton was issued a $500,000 secured bond.
Bridget Elizabeth Foskey, 32, of 1124 Bonner Street, Washington. She was charged with trafficking opium or heroin and misdemeanor child abuse. Foskey was issued a $500,000 secured bond.
All four were still in jail as of Saturday afternoon.
In a separate arrest on Sept. 4, the LCSO concluded an undercover operation and arrested a suspected drug dealer. Narcotics detectives conducted undercover purchases from James Lewis Abercrombie IV at various meeting locations in Lenoir County. On four different occasions, Abercrombie allegedly sold the prescription narcotic Vicodin during the undercover operation. In total, 19 Vicodin pills were purchased from Abercrombie.
Abercrombie, of 1327 Old Pink Hill Road, Deep Run, was arrested on 14 charges, including selling, delivering and trafficking drugs. He was sent to Lenoir County Jail, where he was still in custody Saturday afternoon.