Man Accused Of Drug Sales Near Child Care Center

SMITHFIELD, N.C. — A Smithfield man has been charged following an undercover investigation into alleged drug sales near a child care center, police said.

Tyree Lamar Covington, 37, of Berkshire Road, was arrested April 17 by the Smithfield Police Department.

Officers stopped Covington in a vehicle on Berkshire Road around 12:31 p.m. as he was leaving his residence, authorities said. Investigators then executed a search warrant at his nearby apartment.

Police said suspected cocaine was found inside the apartment, while oxycodone pills were located in Covington’s vehicle. Officers also seized $6,674 in cash, a cell phone, digital scales and other drug paraphernalia.

According to police, the apartment where the alleged drug sales occurred is less than 1,000 feet from a child care center.

Covington was charged with five counts of selling cocaine, four counts of maintaining a vehicle or dwelling for a controlled substance, two counts of manufacturing, selling, delivering or possessing a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a child care center, and one count of simple possession of a controlled substance.

He was held under a $160,000 secured bond at the Johnston County Detention Center.