IRON STATION MAN CHARGED WITH DRUGS

Roderick Lessard was recently charged with keeping a hotel room to sell drugs.

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- Police discover a party going on in a Lincolnton motel room late last week and now an Iron Station man faces several felony drug charges as a result of what authorities found in the room.

The incident began unfolding at the Little Market Basket on South Generals Boulevard, when police officer Sgt. Jeremy Wilson noticed Roderick Lassard. According to Wilson's report, there were felony warrants out on the 21-year-old.

Wilson followed Lassard's vehicle from South Generals to Gaston Street. When Lassard passed Linden Street, Wilson's report indicated Lassard stopped in the middle of the road, backed up and pulled in behind the Days Inn on Clark Drive.

As Wilson approached the parking lot, he saw two white males -- Lassard and Bessemer City resident Justin Dwayne Sain, 18 -- running for the stairs to get to a room.

"I called the subjects over and asked for identification," said Wilson. "As I was talking to them, I noticed not only a strong odor of alcohol but that one of the two men was under the age of 21."

Police discovered the subjects were in room 225 of the motel. When officers arrived on the scene and went to the room, they discovered at least 10 people in a room with alcohol. They also discovered some of the people in the room were also under the age of 21.

While talking to the occupants, police learned there was a gun hidden in the room. Occupants also told authorities that marijauna and ecstasy were also in the room.

Lessard was charged with felony possession of marijauna and possession with intent to sell, manufacture and deliver both marijauna and ecstasy. He was also charged with maintaining a dwelling to sell a controlled substance; possession of drug paraphernalia; and giving alcohol to a person under the age of 21.

Bond for Lessard was set at $20,000 secured.

Justin Dwayne Sain, meantime, was cited for underage drinking.

Authorities seized four ounces of marijauna and nearly 20 doses of ecstasy.