Elizabethtown Police had a busy holiday weekend, making several felony drug arrests and two for assault.

Elizabethtown Police Chief Bobby Kinlaw said a vehicle stop Wednesday morning uncovered a large quantity of marijuana.

Kinlaw said Timothy Nicholas Rhodes, 23, was arrested for felony possession of marijuana after officers found 234 grams of marijuana, valued at around $3,000, in a vehicle he was driving on Newkirk Street. Rhodes was also charged with careless and reckless driving.

Sgt. Gary Britt, Officer Chris Robeson and Det. Lt. Dwayne Cheshire investigated the case. Rhodes lives at 130 White Plains Church Rd., Elizabethtown. He was jailed under $5,500 bond.

Jamie Ballard was arrested by officers Wednesday after he was spotted by officers on North Poplar Street around 8 p.m. Warrants had been issued for Ballard Aug. 6, when Ballard allegedly sold drugs to an undercover officer.

Ballard, who is 21, was charged with one count each of possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine and sale of cocaine. He was placed in the Bladen County Jail under $5,000 bond.

Ballard was arrested by Det. Jeff Tyler and Officer Mark McMichael. Ballard lives at 504 Quail St., Elizabethtown.

Monday morning, Officer Kip Hester was investigating a suspicious person near the Handee Hugo's store on South Poplar when he made a drug-related address.

Terry Dwayne Jacobs, 34, was arrested shortly before 2 a.m. Hester was on routine patrol in the area and spotted Jacobs near the back of the store.

While questioning the man, Kinlaw said, Hester found a crack pipe. Jacobs was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, and placed in the Bladen County Jail under no bond.

Jacobs lives at 299 Bohica Dr., Elizabethtown.

On Saturday night, Hester also arrested a man sought since August for charges resulting from a high-speed chase through Elizabethtown.

Lindy Carroll Melvin, 31, of 164 T.V. Tower Rd., Kelly, was charged with felonious fleeing to elude arrest, careless and reckless driving, and numerous other traffic violations.

He is accused of leading police on a high-speed chase Aug. 9, eventually jumping from his vehicle on Frank Melvin Road and escaping.

Hester recognized Melvin Saturday night and arrested him without incident. Melvin was confined in the Bladen County Jail under $5,000 bond.

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