Meth, cocaine and weapons recovered, Lee County sheriff says

SANFORD, N.C. (WNCN) — A Sanford motorcyclist's attempt to get rid of his drug-laced leather vest backfired when the garment became stuck on the vehicle during a two-county chase Friday, the Lee County sheriff said.

The incident occurred Friday when Lee County Sheriff's Office narcotics officers attempted to stop a man on a motorcycle on Cumnock Road northwest of Sanford, according to a news release from Lee County Sheriff Brian Estes.

The driver, who turned out to be a convicted felon, fled the scene and led deputies on a chase through Chatham County, Estes said.

During the pursuit, the motorcyclist removed a leather vest he was wearing and attempted to “get rid of it,” the release states.

“The vest got stuck on the motorcycle,” Estes said in the news release.

Soon, officers were able to stop the motorcyclist and search the leather vest — which ended up containing “controlled substances,” the news release said.

Officers found 442 grams — nearly a pound — of methamphetamine, 22 grams of cocaine and a small amount of marijuana during a search at the location where the chase ended, the sheriff said.

Then, based on evidence seized during the traffic stop, investigators obtained a search warrant for the motorcyclist's home on Dalrymple Street in Sanford, the news release said.

During that search, narcotics agents found two stolen guns and more cocaine, Estes said.

James Christopher Collins, 54, of Sanford, was held without bail on 10 charges, according to the news release.

Estes said Collins was accused of:

• Trafficking of methamphetamine by transport
• Methamphetamine trafficking by possession
• Possess with intent to sell and deliver a Schedule II controlled substance
• Maintaining a vehicle for the sale of controlled substances
• Offense of possession of cocaine
• Crime flee to escape
• Possession of marijuana up to 0.5 ounces
• Possession of drug paraphernalia
• Possession of a firearm by a felon
• Two counts of possession of a stolen firearm

Collins was also cited for reckless and careless driving and speeding, the sheriff said.