Approximately 815 grams of suspected cocaine were found in the possession of a Chapel Hill man during a traffic stop.
Officials say a deputy pulled over a silver Kawasaki motorcycle on Highway 54 near the intersection of White Cross Road around 10:40 Wednesday morning for a registration plate violation.
A release says the suspect was making “suspicious movements with his hands toward the waist band area of the shorts he was wearing.” The deputy then “gained a position of control over the suspect” and held the individual at gun point.
Gabriel Pineda Rodriguez-Leal, of Butler Road in Chapel Hill, was then taken into custody without further incident after assisting deputies found a package that contained the suspected cocaine.
Authorities say they believe Rodriguez-Leal was trying to discard the package after being stopped, which resulted in the suspicious movement that caught the deputy’s attention.
Rodriguez-Leal was charged with two counts of trafficking more than 400 grams of cocaine by possession and transporting.
Rodriguez-Leal made his first court appearance on Thursday afternoon and is being held in the Orange County Detention Center under a $200,000 secured bond.
He is set to appear in court again on Monday.
Related Stories
‹

Two Local Drug Dealers CaughtTwo local, repeat-offending drug dealers were recently taken off the streets after separate incidents of selling cocaine near schools.

Local Government Meetings: September 14-18, 2026This week in local government: a greenway network in Chapel Hill, and busing concerns and elementary school redistricting for CHCCS.

What's Open or Closed on Labor Day? Holiday to Impact Local Government ServicesMonday marks the observance of Labor Day, which is meant to celebrate the contribution of workers and employees across the United States. With that, the local governments in Orange County will be giving many of their employees the day off, which will affect certain local government services. Ahead of the holiday on Monday, Sep. 7, […]

How OWASA's Reclaimed Water System Extends the Lifespan of Local Water SourcesBuilt 17 years ago to improve the community’s drinking water resilience, it has saved the county billions of gallons of drinking water.
![]()
The Morning News: Mark Chilton Retiring, UNC ReturningIn today's news: longtime Orange County Register of Deeds Mark Chilton announces he's stepping down, a few months before the end of his term.

Red Cross Declares Blood Crisis: Here's Where You Can Donate LocallyThe American Red Cross is calling for immediate blood donations, declaring a national blood crisis for the second time in history.

Celebration of Independence Day to Alter Local Government Services in Orange CountyThe celebration of Independence Day on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4 will affect several local government services in and around Orange County. Here’s a look at what typical services will and won’t be happening during the weekend: Town of Chapel Hill All Chapel Hill administrative offices will be closed Friday, July 3, as […]

Drone Shows and Parades: Here's What to Know Before Orange County's July 4 CelebrationsA variety of July 4 festivities are set to take place across Orange County. Here's how local governments are celebrating.

Sitting Orange County Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford Dies at 67Jamezetta Bedford — a longtime elected official in Orange County, accountant and advocate for residents with disabilities — died on Sunday, according to her family. The Chapel Hill resident was 67 years old.

Juneteenth Holiday to Affect Local Government Services Around Orange CountyAcross the country on Friday, Black Americans and communities will celebrate Juneteenth — the national recognition of when the final slaves were freed in the 19th century and of African-American culture. As a holiday, government services around the Orange County community will be affected on June 19 and the surrounding days. Here’s what residents can […]
›