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.
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 […]
Refuel Prepares to Open Renovated Chapel Hill Location; Will Feature New Local MuralRefuel will celebrate the reopening of a newly renovated gas station, featuring a new mural, in Chapel Hill on Saturday, June 27 at 11 a.m.
Local Government Meetings: June 15-19, 2026This week in local government: a proposed AI moratorium in Durham and a board appointment (maybe) in Chatham County.
Garbage Collection, Local Transit and More: How Memorial Day Will Impact Local ServicesThe observation of Memorial Day Monday, May 25 will affect local government services around the Orange County community. Here’s what residents can expect: Town of Chapel Hill Memorial Day is an official town holiday. Most town and other administrative offices will be closed. Residential trash will not be collected on Monday, with the make-up day […]
Orange County Visitors Bureau Executive Director Laurie Paolicelli Announces RetirementLaurie Paolicelli recently announced this year will be her last as executive director for the Orange County Visitors Bureau.
Orange County Animal Control Searching for Fox in Chapel Hill After 2 People BittenTwo people are receiving treatment after they were bitten by a fox Friday afternoon. Animal Control officers are active in Chapel Hill.
Orange County Clerk of Court Mark Kleinschmidt Wins State, National HonorsOrange County Clerk of Superior Court Mark Kleinschmidt has been recognized with two awards – one statewide and one national – in recognition of his service. Kleinschmidt received the North Carolina Guardianship Association’s Trailblazer Award last week in Asheville, recognizing his two terms as Clerk of Superior Court and Probate Judge. In legal terms, guardianship […]
Chapel Hill And Carrboro Hold Third No Kings Day, Joining Communities NationwideChapel Hill and Carrboro residents participated in the third No Kings Day on Saturday, Mar. 28, protesting President Donald Trump.
'Recreation for Folks from Orange County:' Commissioners Further Plans for Millhouse Road SiteOrange County is continuing to make progress on its plans for a recreational playing field facility north of Chapel Hill.
›
