Lincoln man faces drug, weapon charges after Route 1 traffic stop near Lewes

A Lincoln man faces gun and drug charges after police stopped him for speeding May 12 on Route 1 north of Lewes.

Police said they spotted a Dodge Charger speeding at 11:09 a.m. near Eagle Crest Road. When troopers pulled the car over, they said they could could smell marijuana and saw smoke coming from the vehicle’s center armrest. Police said traces of marijuana were visible on the clothing of Joshua Witty, 33, the driver. Witty got out of the car at first, police said, but then tried to avoid arrest by getting back into the car.

A search of Witty and his vehicle revealed a loaded 9mm handgun, a loaded .45mm handgun, about $706 in suspected drug proceeds, and various drug paraphernalia. Police said they also found about 863 bags – 6 grams – of heroin; about three Levorphanol Tartrates; about 25 grams of crack; about 54 grams of cocaine; about 1.6 grams of methamphetamine.

Witty was transported to Troop 7 and charged with two counts of possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited, three counts possession of a controlled substance of a Tier 3 quantity, and other drug and traffic offenses.

Witty was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 7 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $171,502 cash bond.