Traffic stop leads

to five ounces of cocaine
By Melanie Davis
Melanie@mountaintimes.com

A routine traffic stop led to the discovery of more than five ounces of cocaine and the arrest of two men Tuesday night, March 18.

At 10 p.m., deputy Brandon Greer of the Watauga County Sheriff's Office came upon a white Lexus traveling on King Street without its headlights turned on.

Greer stopped the vehicle, and during a license check established that the driver's license had been revoked. Phillip M. Burton, 23, of 901 Car Farm Road, Lincolnton, was arrested, and a search of the vehicle was executed.

Officers found 5.36 ounces of powder cocaine and a small quantity of marijuana.

Burton was taken into custody and charged with trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic cocaine, possession of marijuana, and failure to burn headlights.

He is scheduled to appear in district court on April 23, in lieu of a $30,000 bond.

The officers continued their investigation from the incident, which lead to a search warrant executed at 1459 West King St. in Boone. As a result of the search, the resident of the address, Eric G. Michael, 22, was also arrested.

Michael was charged with conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.

He is scheduled to appear in district court on April 23 in lieu of a $20,000 bond.