Narcotics, a stolen firearm, a stolen vehicle and more felonies sent a Clarkton man to jail Tuesday after a pursuit that ended in Pender County.
Deron Dewitt Blanks, 39, of 6504 Hallsboro Road North, was arrested after a pursuit along Old Lake Road, according to sheriff’s reports. His bond was set at $5,160,000 secured. Blanks was charged with four counts of sale and delivery or heroin, two counts of trafficking in heroin or opiates, two counts of trafficking in cocaine, possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine and opiates, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, carrying a concealed weapon, felony fleeing to elude arrest, maintaining a vehicle for drug activities, resisting an officer, paraphernalia and failure to appear. He was also charged on unrelated warrants of sale and delivery of heroin.
In a press release, Sheriff Jody Greene said deputies with the Heavy Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) were conducting a license checkpoint on Old Lake Road when Blanks approached the officers in a dark SUV, and failed to stop.
Deputies pursued the SUV into Bladen County, then into Pender, where Blanks crashed into a fence. He then fled the vehicle on foot, the release said.
In the SUV, deputies found 291 grams of cocaine, 298 grams of heroin, 137 pills of various kinds, a stolen .38 caliber revolver, and a large amount of cash.
No injuries were reported in the chase or wreck.
A records check showed Blanks was wanted as part of a separate investigation, which led to the additional narcotics charges.
