MURFREESBORO – The driver of a taxi cab was arrested here Wednesday on drug charges.

According to Murfreesboro Police Chief Darrell Rowe, 50-year-old Dudley Lawrence Vann of Ahoskie was charged with three felonies – possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, maintaining a vehicle to keep a controlled substance and possession with intent to sell and deliver a counterfeit controlled substance – as well as misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Vann was placed in the Hertford County Jail under a $30,000 secured bond and made his first court appearance on Friday.

Rowe said MPD Officer David Griffith performed a traffic stop on a vehicle, one bearing the signage of Mom and Pop’s Taxi Cab of Ahoskie, shortly before 8 p.m. on Main Street (US 158/258 Business).

“Officer Griffith observed the cab operating with its license plate hanging very loosely; it was not properly attached to the vehicle,” Rowe said. “Officer Griffith asked the driver to step out of the vehicle at which time he patted down the driver and also performed a consented search of the vehicle based on probable cause.”

Rowe said that search revealed crack cocaine, a small amount of powder cocaine, a set of digital scales and a bottle of Inositol powder, which Rowe said was a common cutting agent used by those in dealing in illegal drugs.

“All those items were seized,” Rowe stated.

Griffith was assisted by MPD Lt. Joe Burgess and Patrol Officer Jimmy Bracy.

“This is an excellent example of how proactive patrolling works,” Rowe said. “This was a vehicle stop for a minor infraction that led to a much bigger felony case. I commend all the officers involved for their professionalism and motivation to protect and serve our citizens.”