AHOSKIE – An alert employee of an Ahoskie business aided in a drug arrest here Monday.

Derrick Jermaine Mitchell, 28, of Conway was placed in the Hertford County Jail under a $100,000 secured bond after he apparently dropped a paper towel containing approximately 14 grams of crack cocaine on the floor of a business located at Ahoskie Commons Shopping Center.

Ahoskie Police Chief Troy Fitzhugh detailed the incident.

“Mr. Mitchell walked into the business shortly before 6 p.m. on Monday,” Fitzhugh said. “While inside conducting business, Mr. Mitchell dropped a paper towel on the floor that was later determined to contain white, rock-like substances.

“Mr. Mitchell left the business, not realizing that he had dropped the paper towel. Meanwhile, an employee of the business located the paper towel and upon realizing what it contained, immediately contacted the Ahoskie Police.”

Fitzhugh continued, “Apparently upon realizing he had dropped the paper towel inside the place of business, Mr. Mitchell returned to the store, which by this time had closed for the day. However, Mr. Mitchell drew the attention of someone in the store and inquired if they had noticed a paper towel on the floor, to which the employee responded, ‘no’.”

In the meantime, APD Officer Larry Belangia arrived on the scene and, working with a description of the suspect, located and arrested Mitchell.

Mitchell was charged with one felony count of possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver crack cocaine.

Chief Fitzhugh thanked the store employee for being so observant and acting in a heads-up manner by contacting the police instead of attempting to confront the suspect.