GFPD makes cocaine arrest

A St. Stephens High School senior remained in custody Friday after local law enforcement found 13 grams of cocaine in his vehicle Thursday afternoon.

Officers arrested Jessie Dean Frye, 19, of 1735 and charged him with felony possession of cocaine, misdemeanor drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor possession of a schedule two controlled substance. He was confined to the Caldwell County Detention Center under a $6,500 secured bond.

Granite Falls Assistant Police Chief Lt. T.J. Bates said officers responded to a one-vehicle accident on U.S. 321 north near Glenn Ridge Drive shortly after 2 p.m. Thursday. While waiting for the Highway Patrol to arrive, Granite Falls K-9 Officer Joey Morrison and Caldwell County Sheriff's Office K-9 Officer Scott Wesson observed Frye showing nervous behavior and asked to search the vehicle.

During the consent search, officers found six grams of cocaine in a cylinder on Frye's keychain. Morrison then retrieved his K-9 Ramsey, which alerted for the scent of a controlled substance. Officers then located an additional seven grams of cocaine in a plastic bag inside the vehicle owner's manual, which was in the glove compartment. They also located one hydrocodine pill.

Bates said he has notified St. Stephens High School and its school resource officer, and plans to get the details of the investigation to the school.

“This is a good case of the K-9 guys working together,” Bates said. “It just so happened that they were both nearby, and they worked together to solve this case. We also are working with jurisdictions in Catawba County because of where he attends school.”