Three traffic stops yield drug busts by Horry County police

Horry County’s Street Crimes Unit found controlled substances after three different traffic stops on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Lt. Raul Denis.

On Tuesday at roughly 7:15 p.m., officers stopped Tashawn D. Williams, 26, of Myrtle Beach, after observing him driving across the center line of Third Avenue South in Myrtle Beach.

After a check by a K9 indicated presence of narcotics in the car, an officer searched the car and found a silver Ruger pistol, a black .45 caliber pistol, oxycodone, a white powder that tested positive for cocaine, and three “quart size mason jars all containing a green leafy substance consistent with marijuana,” according to a police report.

Williams was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and cocaine, possession of a controlled substance, unlawful carry of a pistol and a traffic violation.

At 10 p.m. the same day, Horry County police stopped a car that had issues with a tail light on Robert M. Grissom Parkway. David Chaput, 32, of Hickory, N.C., told an officer he did not have a driver’s license when asked for one.

Police officials redacted several details in the report, making it unclear how officers located narcotics in the car Chaput was driving. Another passenger of the car, Joshua P. Hinson, 32, of Conover, N.C., was arrested on charges of possession of crack cocaine, and Chaput was arrested on charges of driving without a valid driver’s license.

The narrative section of the report, referring to Chaput as Arrestee #1 and Hinson as Arrestee #2, reads: “Arrestee #1 [REDACTED] In doing so Officer Dulina was able to locate [REDACTED] three off white rock like substances consistent with crack cocaine. Arrestee #2 was the read his Miranda Rights and then questioned [REDACTED] Arrestee #2 also advised Officer Dulina [REDACTED] Arrestee #2 was then placed under arrest for possession of crack cocaine. Arrestee #1 was also placed under arrest for driving without a valid driver's license.”

Denis could not be reached by phone Thursday evening for more details on the incident.

In a third incident, Horry County police stopped a car Wednesday around 10 p.m. for crossing a center line while traveling on S.C. 57 north of S.C. 9. The stop eventually led to the arrest of Dennis J. Libonati, 65, of Little River, on charges of heroin possession.

The report again was heavily redacted.

“I made a passenger side approach and observed the arrestee was the driver, entity 1 was in the front passenger seat, entity 2 was in the rear passenger seat and entity 3 was in the rear driver seat,” the report reads. “I advised the arrestee why he was stopped and he provided me his driver’s license. I asked the driver if I could search his vehicle [REDACTED] All the occupants were asked to exit the vehicle. Cpl. Buckingham frisked entity 2 and located a needle cap in his pocket. Entity 2 was detained.”

Police then located eight syringes, a spoon, a cup of water, multiple drink caps, loose cotton and a bag of Q-tips inside the car.

The report continues: “I searched the arrestee and located 3 wax paper slips in a pack of cigarettes in his pocket. The arrestee and entity 3 were detained. All the wax paper slips contained a brown powder which field tested positive for the presence of heroin. [REDACTED] Entity 2 and the arrestee were placed in the back of my car. Entity 3 was released from his cuffs. [REDACTED] I read the arrestee his Miranda Warnings [REDACTED] Entity 2 was released.”

This story was originally published December 1, 2016 at 5:44 PM with the headline "Three traffic stops yield drug busts by Horry County police."