Two separate narcotics investigations led to the arrest of four individuals in Orange County on Wednesday.

Authorities said in a release on Friday that 35-year-old Joseph Lee Cotton, of Old Sawmill Road in Chapel Hill, was arrested Wednesday and charged with nine counts of trafficking in opiates and maintaining a vehicle for controlled substances.

As a result of the investigation, deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office seized 119 dosage units of 15mg morphine, which totaled 17.74 grams, and 12 dosage units of 5mg oxycodone, totaling 6.3 grams, according to a release.

Cotton is being held in the Orange County Detention Center as of last update under a $100,000 secured bond.

Meanwhile, a search of a Mebane home led to multiple arrests Wednesday.

Authorities say the target of the Mebane search was 63-year-old Robert Lee Purcell, of Lancaster Road. Purcell was taken into custody and is facing charges of possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The search of Purcell’s residence also led to the arrest of 41-year-old Ruby Jana Hitefield on an order for arrest out of Alamance County for failure to appear on trespassing and misdemeanor larceny charges. Kelli Talbert Isley, 35, was also arrested for misdemeanor possession of schedule II controlled substance and outstanding charges from Alamance County.

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