North Charleston Police officers (NCPD) arrested a Goose Creek man early Tuesday morning on drug-related charges following a traffic stop.

Shortly after midnight, an officer conducting proactive patrols observed a vehicle parked in the 7300 block of Mazyck Road, an area known for high criminal activity. When the officer attempted to approach the occupant, the individual fled on foot and was briefly lost from sight.

At approximately 12:35 a.m., the officer later observed the same vehicle leaving the parking lot. The driver made a left turn onto Mazyck Road, failing to stop at a stop sign. The officer initiated a traffic stop, but the vehicle attempted to evade by turning into a hotel parking lot on Prospect Drive, which ended in a dead end. The vehicle then came to a stop.

Upon contact, the suspect spontaneously stated, “what weed.” The officer advised that she detected the odor of marijuana but had not asked about it. Both the driver and passenger were asked to exit the vehicle.

Additional officers arrived on scene, and a probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted. Inside a dashboard compartment, officers located multiple burnt straws commonly associated with drug use, a bag containing four pills, and another bag containing approximately 0.78 grams of an off-white powdery substance. The substance field-tested presumptively positive for PCP and Amphetamines.

The suspect, identified as 32-year-old Darnell Anthony Nolen, reportedly made another spontaneous statement—“Amphetamines”—upon hearing handcuffs. At that time, officers had not disclosed the results of the search, leading them to believe he had prior knowledge of the substances.

Nolen was charged with possession of Amphetamines and transported to the Al Cannon Detention Center.