Two charged with trafficking methamphetamine

JEFFERSON — Ashe County Sheriff B. Phil Howell announces the arrest of 55-year-old Everett Dee Sawyer of New Castle, Delaware, and 27-year-old Mason Malik Hamilton of North Wilkesboro.

On April 18, Deputy Cody Dancy performed a routine traffic stop on a vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Everette Sawyer, who did not have a valid NC driver’s license. The passenger of the vehicle was identified as Mason Hamilton.

During the traffic stop, K9 Deputy Lee Johnson arrived to assist and deployed his K9 Officer. K9 Officer Condor conducted an open-air sniff of the vehicle, which resulted in a positive alert at multiple locations of the vehicle. Both subjects were patted down, and Hamilton was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia.

Deputy Johnson located a pizza box on the bed of the truck, and inside of the pizza box was a large package addressed to Sawyer containing a ziplock baggie with a white crystal substance, later identified as methamphetamine. Deputies seized a quarter of a pound of methamphetamine. Additional evidence has been submitted to the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab for further analysis, which may result in additional charges at a later date.

Deputies transported Sawyer and Hamilton to the Ashe County Detention Center.

Sawyer was charged with two felony counts of trafficking methamphetamine and driving with a revoked license. Sawyer was placed under a $200,000 secured bond.

Hamilton was charged with two felony counts of trafficking methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hamilton was placed under a $200,000 secured bond.