A South Carolina man was arrested on several charges and the woman he was riding with also faces charges following a traffic stop on I-20 Aug. 2.
Darrell DeCarlos Grate, Jr., 38, of, Columbia, S.C., is being charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm while trying to commit crimes, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
Kimberly Eugenia Sanders, 39, also of Columbia, faces charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and a window tint violation. Sanders was released at the scene of the traffic stop because her daughter and nephew, both minor children, were traveling with her. She was asked to turn herself in to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office by 8 a.m. on Aug. 3.
According to reports, Deputy Matthew Cowdrey initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle with a very dark window tint and made contact with Sanders who was driving. She was asked to exit the vehicle to speak with Cowdrey.
Sanders said she was giving a friend a ride back home to Atlanta from Columbia.
She said the passengers in the vehicle were her daughter and nephew. The friend and front seat passenger was later identified as Grate.
When Cowdrey returned to the vehicle to obtain the vehicle’s registration and proof of insurance from the passenger, he saw the handle of a handgun that was partially covered by a blue cloth bag on the front passenger floorboard between the front passenger’s feet.
According to the report, Cowdrey drew his duty weapon and ordered Grate to exit the vehicle. Grate then placed his hands on the vehicle and was secured in handcuffs.
Grate admitted to Cowdrey that he wasn’t supposed to have any firearms. Cowdrey requested a criminal history and asked Sanders if there were any more weapons or illegal narcotics in the car.
When she was asked if other weapons or illegal drugs were also in the car, Sanders stated “Not as far as I know, I was just taking my friend home.”
According to the report, Cowdrey asked if he could search the vehicle, and Sanders agreed. Cowdrey then requested another unit from dispatch, and Lt. Paquette was sent to assist.
Grate told Cowdrey that the firearm belonged to him and that Sanders didn’t know that it was in the vehicle.
After Lt. Paquette arrived on the scene, Sanders was asked to have both of the minor children get out of the car and stand with her at the front of the vehicle, Cowdrey conducted his search. Cowdrey said he located several cell phones, a package of sandwich bags, unused garbage bags, and two vacuum-sealed plastic bags, each containing approximately a half-pound of marijuana and an unknown amount of U.S. currency.
Neither Grate nor Sanders claimed the money, and Sanders denied having any knowledge of the marijuana being in the car.
According to the report, Sanders was advised she would be released at the scene due to the presence of the children and she would need to turn herself in by the next morning. Cowdrey was then advised by dispatch that Grate was a convicted felon.
An additional unknown amount of currency and another bag of marijuana were found on Grate during his arrest. The GCSO said Sanders turned herself in the next day, as promised.