Jerome Pearce, 32, of 331 E. Washington St., Petersburg, Va., was charged with possession with intent to deliver a cocaine base (crack cocaine), Detective Lt. Gant Montgomery said. Pearce was being held at Southern Regional Jail pending arraignment.
Montgomery said police had received information that a Virginia drug dealer was to visit Crab Orchard Friday night. Both Beckley narcotics officers and State Police troopers set up surveillance in the area. Around 7 p.m., a vehicle and suspect matching the descriptions given by tipsters were observed on Reading Street.
Pearce became defensive when questioned by officers, Montgomery said. When one attempted do a pat-down search, Pearce pushed officers away and tried to flee on foot. Montgomery, Detective Sgt. Jason McDaniel and Troopers M.S. Efird and H.D. Stone took Pearce to the ground, but Pearce continued to fight. Montgomery noted Pearce is 6-foot-3 and 400 pounds, and it took several minutes to handcuff him.
During the struggle, Pearce threw a brown paper bag into a yard, Montgomery said. It contained 50 grams of crack cocaine worth about $5,000 on the street.
Montgomery said police found out Pearce has an extensive criminal history, including gun charges and drug convictions. Both witnesses and informants told police he had been coming to the Crab Orchard area for the “last couple of months” with crack cocaine. Pearce was not armed when arrested.
A male passenger was riding with Pearce, but he was questioned and released, Montgomery said. Further investigation is pending.
Montgomery said Pearce could face additional federal drug charges.
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