Lenoir County man arrested on drug and DWI charges following traffic stop

On February 13, 2026, at approximately 8:12 p.m., officers with the Kinston Police Department’s C-Squad responded to the 1800 block of East New Bern Road following a report of a wrong-way driver.

While officers did not locate a vehicle traveling the wrong direction, they observed a vehicle traveling at an extremely slow speed along the right shoulder of the roadway and conducted a traffic stop.

The driver was identified as 51-year-old Edward Raikes of Lenoir County. During the encounter, officers observed drug paraphernalia and an open container of an alcoholic beverage in the driver’s side floorboard. A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted, which resulted in the discovery of methamphetamine, cocaine, and additional drug paraphernalia.

Raikes was taken into custody. During the booking process, he became combative and refused to comply with officers’ instructions.

Raikes was charged with the following:

- Driving While Impaired

- Possession of Cocaine

- Possession of Methamphetamine

- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

- Resisting Arrest

- Assault on a Government Official

- Multiple Traffic Violations

Raikes remains in custody at the Lenoir County Jail.