Three men were arrested after a West Virginia State Trooper stopped their vehicle
for a broken headlight Saturday.
Derrick Scott Hamlet, 25, of Morgantown, is charged with person prohibited from possessing firearms, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and conspiracy.
Darryl Charles LeMasters II, 26, of Farmington Hills, Mich., is charged with two counts possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
Dennis Avery Lytle was arrested for outstanding warrants.
Trooper V. Marra was parked in the median of Interstate 79 near the Marion County line on Saturday, according to a criminal complaint.
She saw a dark sedan traveling north with a headlight out, the complaint said. Marra activated her vehicle’s lights and sirens to stop the sedan, which pulled over near mile marker 146.
Marra approached the passenger side of the sedan and noticed a firearm hanging out of Hamlet’s sweatshirt pocket, the complaint said. Marra secured the firearm, explained why she stopped the vehicle, gathered the occupants’ IDs, asked if there was anything illegal in the car and was told no.
After checking Lytle’s ID, it was discovered he had three warrants for his arrest in Monongalia County and one in Ohio with an extradition request, the complaint said.
At that point, the three were detained for safety, according to the complaint.
Trooper Little, who arrived at the traffic stop to help, arrested Lytle after telling him about the warrants, the complaint said.
The troopers asked if they could search the vehicle and all three men said no, the complaint said. A K9 unit was called and Hamlet said he knew the K9 would hit because he smokes marijuana.
Deputy Hunn, with the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department, arrived with a K9. The K9 indicated a positive hit on the vehicle and a pink lunch box was found on the passenger floor with small bags of a white powder that tested positive for heroin and fentanyl, the complaint said. Multiple bags of marijuana, a digital scale and a box of zip-top bags were also found, as was the model P-32 pistol with four bullets.
Lytle is being held in North Central Regional Jail in lieu of $105,000 bond. Hamlet is being held on $50,000 bond. LeMasters posted bond.
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