Man passes out at red light; arrested for coke

Published 11:02 pm Monday, February 13, 2017

An Andalusia man was arrested for cocaine and other drug charges over the weekend.

Opp Police Chief Mike McDonald said Monday that around 11:25 p.m., Friday, C-Shift officers were dispatched to the intersection of Hwy. 84 and the Florala Hwy. in reference to a vehicle that continued to sit at the intersection through several cycles of the traffic light.

0214-hamiltondarian“Upon the officers’ arrival, they observed a 2001 GMC Yukon sitting at the intersection and noted that the vehicle did not move once it had a green light,” McDonald said. “Officers approached the vehicle and observed the vehicle operator slumped over the steering wheel.”

McDonald said after several attempts, the officers were finally able to awaken the driver.

The driver was found to be 25-year-old Darian T. Hamilton of Andalusia.

McDonald said a subsequent investigation by the officers resulted in Hamilton being placed under arrest for possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

McDonald said an agent with the 22nd Judicial Drug Task Force responded to the scene and assumed the case.

Hamilton was booked in the Covington County Jail.

He was held on a $13,000 bond. However, according to the jail report, his bond was revoked on two failure to appear charges.

According to Star-News archives, Hamilton was arrested in September 2011 at a safety checkpoint at the intersection of Babbie Road and Airport Road, where he allegedly had 16 grams of cocaine. He was charged with possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance in November 2011 and was sentenced to 32 months probation.

He was also arrested in December 2012 for first-degree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia at a suspected drug house on Eighth Avenue.

He was also arrested in September 2015 for attempting to elude, possession of marijuana first, possession drug paraphernalia, and receiving stolen property second.