Walmart fender-bender leads to drug and gun bust

(SOURCE: Albemarle Police Department)

ALBEMARLE — An incident that began as a hit-and-run in the Walmart parking lot last Wednesday eventually led to the arrest of an Albemarle resident on narcotics and gun charges. 

Following the completion of a search warrant of his hotel room, Jevon T. Blackmon, 21, was arrested by the Albemarle Police Department for the possession of a stolen firearm, 18 grams of suspected fentanyl, another unknown powder substance, approximately 55 grams of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and $3,000 in cash. 

The situation arose when APD officers that were addressing a separate incident at Walmart, 781 Leonard Ave., noticed a hit-and-run collision in the parking lot.  

Blackmon, who was behind the wheel of a 2016 Ford Fusion, allegedly attempted to flee the scene before being pulled over by the nearby officers. Inside the vehicle, officers obtained a controlled substance along with paraphernalia; a gun that had been reported as stolen from Ahoskie, NC; cash; and two hotel key cards to a room at Sleep Inn, 615 NC 24-27 Bypass E.  

In a combined effort between detectives and probation officers, a search warrant for Blackmon’s hotel room led to the seizure of additional illegal items. Blackmon was taken to the Stanly County Jail where he received a $300,000 secured bond for his release along with a March 29 court date.  

While some charges are still pending, he was officially arrested for possession with the intent to manufacture and distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, trafficking opium or heroin, possession with the intent to sell and deliver schedule two, possession of firearm by felon, and maintaining a vehicle for controlled substance.  

Blackmon’s arrest is his second in less than a year.  

On Aug. 19, 2020, a search warrant was conducted at 348A Summit Avenue in Albemarle by the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division and S.W.A.T. team. The search concluded with the seizure of 82.95 grams of cocaine, 6.8 grams of Fentanyl, and $4,003 in cash; Blackmon, along with Rickey House and Germarcus Sellers, were arrested for the drugs.  

Blackmon was charged with trafficking in cocaine, possession with the intent to manufacture sale or deliver heroin, possession with the intent to manufacture sale or deliver cocaine, felony possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, conspiracy to sell and deliver schedule two, conspiracy to sell and deliver heroin, and maintain a dwelling used for keeping a controlled substance. 

Nearly three years ago, Blackmon was arrested in the non-fatal shooting of a man in a private vehicle.  

The APD received a call about a shooting on Gibson Street in Albemarle. Upon inspection, officers found a car with 10 bullet holes as well as a residence hit by bullets. After an investigation, Blackmon was charged on April 3, 2018, with felony attempted first-degree murder, felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and discharge weapon into occupied dwelling/moving vehicle.