ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A man was arrested last night on drug trafficking charges in a proactive enforcement move by the Asheville Police Department.
APD took Jeffrey Allen Cornett Sr., 61, into custody around 6:50 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 29 near the intersection of South French Broad Avenue and Hilliard Avenue.
Cornett was driving a vehicle bearing what officers identified as suspicious temporary tags. When he was pulled over in a traffic stop, APD discovered trafficking amounts of opium in his possession as well as methamphetamine.
Additional felony counts were added to Cornett’s charges for possessing the drugs within 1000 feet of a park, Aston Park, two blocks up the road from Asheville Middle School in downtown Asheville.
Cornett was booked into Buncombe County Detention Facility under a $210,000 bond and charged with:
- Felony trafficking by possession of opium
- Felony trafficking by transport of opium
- Felony possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver methamphetamine
- Felony possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver methamphetamine within 1000ft of a park
- Felony possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver opium within 1000ft of a park
- Felony maintain dwelling or motor vehicle for controlled substance
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
APD encourages anyone with information about illegal drug activity to contact the department by phone at (828) 252-1110, by texting “TIP2APD” to 847411 or by accessing their anonymous tip app, TIP2APD.