Man faces gun, drug charges after Millsboro traffic stop

A Delmar man faces gun and drug charges April 26 after a traffic stop in Millsboro.

Police spotted a woman driving northbound on Railroad Street at 12:17 p.m. when she failed to signal as she turned right onto Main Street, said Sr. Cpl. Leonard DeMalto of the Delaware State Police.

When the car stopped, DeMalto said, troopers saw the passenger, Joe L. Smith, 23, reach around in the car and then opened the car door and tried to exit. Troopers took him into custody without incident and discovered he has six active warrants for his arrest including three felony warrants issued by the Laurel Police Department. Troopers searched Smith and found about 26 glassine baggies containing suspected heroin and over $9,200 in suspected drug dealing proceeds.

A backpack on the front passenger floorboard contained a suppressed handgun, ammunition, an extended magazine, and drug paraphernalia. 

The driver, a 22-year-old woman from Frankford, was issued a ticket and released. Smith, a convicted felon, was taken to Troop 4 and charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, possession of ammunition by a person prohibited, two counts possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, carrying a concealed firearm, and two count possession of drug paraphernalia.

Smith was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $100,400 cash bond.