A 36-year-old Lignum man earned a felony charge after being caught red footed with controlled substances.

On November 7th at approximately 10:30 p.m. Sergeant B.U. Demirci and Deputy C.R. Newman responded to America’s Best Value Inn, located at 605 Warrenton Road. The caller advised a shirtless suspect appeared to be “on something” as he stumbled and staggered around the business. While it’s been an unusually warm November, not many people are staggering around Warrenton Road shirtless, making it easy for Sergeant Demirci to locate him near the I-95 interchange.

Sergeant Demirci and Deputy Newman made contact with the shirtless suspect, identified as Bennie Smith. Smith advised he was at the business in question; however, he was now on his way to a different Warrenton Road motel. Due to his signs of intoxication, he was arrested and transported to Rappahannock Regional Jail.

At the jail, Smith was given a standout jumpsuit and fashionable slippers to change into. As he removed his sock, a small object containing a white powdery substance slammed to the floor. Both Smith and a jail officer raced to collect it, each for different purposes. Smith would attempt to swallow the substance while jail officers demanded him to spit it out. Deputy Newman entered the scuffle to seize both Smith and the substance.

Due to his stalled out sock smuggling attempt, Smith was charged with public intoxication, felony destroying evidence, and obstruction of justice. His bond of being held until sober was quickly substituted to a $5,000 secured bond.