LUMBERTON — Four people are facing drug charges after complaints from neighbors led narcotics agents with the Sheriff’s Office to search a Lumberton home last week.
During the search on Friday by agents with the Special Response Team, drugs and weapons were confiscated, according to a statement from Sheriff Kenneth Sealey.
Michael Scott Freeman, 29, of 80 Parnell Road, Mark Wayne Locklear, 54, of the same address, Shorty Locklear, 35, of 1112 Oakgrove Church Road, and Shenelle Nichole Locklear, 24, of 928 Snipes Road, Red Springs, are each charged with possession of cocaine with the intent to sell or deliver, possession of marijuana with the intent to sell or deliver, maintaining a drug dwelling, conspiracy to sell or deliver cocaine, conspiracy to sell or deliver marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
In addition, Michael Freeman, Shorty Locklear and Mark Locklear were each charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to the statement, during a search of the residence, 9 grams of marijuana, 10 grams of crack cocaine, a loaded Champion 12-gauge shotgun, a loaded Winchester .22-caliber rifle, digital scales, plastic bags and pill bottles were seized. The crack cocaine was found inside a septic tank.
The bond for Freeman, Mark Wayne Locklear and Shorty Locklear were set a $60,000 each, while bond for Shenelle Nichole Locklear was set at $50,000. The statement did not say if any of the Locklears are related.
Most of us know that individuals who use illegal drugs are going to get high—no matter what, so why do you not prefer they acquire them in stores that check IDs and pay taxes? Gifting the market in narcotics to ruthless criminals, foreign terrorists, and corrupt law enforcement officials is seriously compromising our future.
Why do you wish to continue with a policy that has proven itself to be a poison in the veins of our once so "proud & free" nation? Even if you cannot bear the thought of people using drugs, there is absolutely nothing you, or any government, can do to stop them. We have spent 40 years and trillions of dollars on this dangerous farce; Prohibition will not suddenly and miraculously start showing different results. Do you actually believe you may personally have something to lose If we were to begin basing our drug policy on science & logic instead of ignorance, hate and lies?
Maybe you're a police officer, a prison guard, or a local/national politician. Possibly you're scared of losing employment, overtime pay, the many kickbacks, and those regular fat bribes. But what good will any of that do you once our society has followed Mexico over the dystopian abyss of dismembered bodies, vats of acid, and marauding thugs carrying gold-plated AK-47s with leopard-skinned gunstocks?
Kindly allow us to forgo the next level of your sycophantic prohibition-engendered mayhem!
Prohibition prevents regulation: legalize, regulate, and tax!