COMO – An early morning checking station set up near here June 3 netted the arrest of a Gates County man on several felony charges.

Hertford County Sheriff Juan Vaughan reported that 31-year-old Billy Joe Blow of 196 Willeyton Road, Gatesville, was found in possession of powder and crack cocaine after he attempted to avoid the checking station manned by HCSO officers at the intersection of US 258 and Statesville Road near Como.

Blow was charged with three felonies – possession of cocaine, possession with intent to sell and deliver a Schedule 2 drug, and maintaining a vehicle to store a controlled substance – and two misdemeanors – possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while license were revoked.

He was placed in the Hertford County Jail under a $100,000 bond. Vaughan said as of Friday morning, Blow remained incarcerated.

Vaughan said that at around 2:20 a.m. the deputies working the checking station noted a vehicle traveling north on US 258 suddenly stopped in the road and began to back up.

“The stop was so quick that it caused the tires to squeal on Mr. Blow’s vehicle,” Vaughan said.

HCSO Deputy Chase Oliver traveled to the stopped vehicle in an effort to inquire of the driver why did he make such a sudden stop and reverse his direction of travel.

“Upon approaching the vehicle, Deputy Oliver noticed a black bag on the ground adjacent to the vehicle,” Vaughan said. “That bag was checked and it was discovered it contained five smaller bags of powder and crack cocaine, three sets of scales, and additional clear plastic baggies that were empty.”

Assisting in the arrest were HCSO Captain Marty Davis, Sgt. John Joyner and Deputy Tom Helms.

“I want to commend my officers for being observant,” Vaughan stated. “This is another effort of trying to slow the sale of drugs in our county.”

According to the NC Division of Prisons website, Blow is no stranger to local law enforcement. He was charged Jan. 1, 2005 in Gates County with three felonies – possession with intent to sell a Schedule 2 substance, maintaining a place to store a controlled substance, and speeding to elude arrest. That led to a suspended sentence and probation. He was placed on probation again following a June 1, 2011 charge in Gates County of driving while license were revoked.