Pubdate: Wed, 23 Jul 2003
Source: Robesonian, The (NC)
Copyright: 2003 The Robesonian
Contact:  http://www.robesonian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1548
Author: Matt Elofson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

TRAINING SESSION ENDS IN DRUG BUST

RIDGELAND, S.C. -- Two Robeson County sheriff's deputies in South Carolina 
to teach criminal interstate enforcement techniques managed to turn the 
theoretical "how-to" class into a real-life "we did" demonstration.

On Sunday, the Robeson County officers -- drug agents J.O. Hunt and Steve 
Lovin -- were riding with Ridgeland police Officers Hunter Benn and Chris 
Malphrus when they stopped a vehicle on Interstate 95 in Jasper County for 
a simple traffic violation.

That stop quickly turned into a classroom.

Lovin said 30 kilograms of cocaine were found in a duffel bag in the trunk 
of the 2003 Buick that was being driven by David Simon, 33, of Atlanta. The 
cocaine had a street value of more than $4 million.

"You never know what you're going to find when you stop a car," Lovin said. 
"We can stop 30 cars in a day and we usually find somebody who is wanted."

Simon was traveling north from Fort Lauderdale and was on his way to 
Columbia, S.C., Lovin said. After being charged with felony trafficking 
cocaine, Simon was being held in the Jasper County jail under $750,000 bail.

Lovin and Hunt were training Ridgeland police on how to identify vehicles 
that are carrying drugs and how to turn routine traffic stops into 
something more.

"It's teaching them to go beyond just issuing a speeding ticket, to catch 
wanted people and others involved in criminal activity on the interstate," 
Lovin said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager