A motorist who slammed into the back of a undercover officers car told police he had smoked crack cocaine about 1 to 2 hours earlier.Around 10:20 am Friday, the undercover narcotic agent with the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office had stopped in traffic for a red light at the intersection of US 70 and US 301 in Selma.
Selma Police said a 1996 Nissan Pathfinder driven by Kenneth Francis Saliani, 55, of Raleigh was traveling eastbound when it struck the back of the officers unmarked car. Police said they found crack cocaine on the gear shift of Saliani’s SUV and a metal pipe used to inhale crack cocaine that was warm to the touch. A 6 pack of beer was located in the passenger seat.
Police allege Saliani admitted to smoking cocaine 1 to 2 hours before driving and had been smoking for the past 2 or 3 days. He told police he was lost at the time of the crash and didn’t see the stopped vehicle in front of him.
Salini was charged with driving while impaired, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, possession with intent to manufacture sell or deliver cocaine, maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail was set at $35,000.
