A Michigan man who had previously been arrested multiple times in Monongalia County was taken into custody on Wednesday for drug possession.
While on patrol, Morgantown Police Officer CJ Behm noticed a Chrysler minivan registered in Illinois that was believed to be involved in a hit-and-run accident on June 24. According to Behm’s statement, the van was parked on High Street. Standing next to the vehicle was a black man, later identified as Deante Bernard Hurt, 27, of Detroit.
As Behm approached the van, Hurt got into the driver’s seat and began to drive away, but parked the vehicle when Behm initiated a traffic stop.
The officer said that while parking the vehicle, Hurt could be seen accessing the dashboard by removing the vent and dashboard controls. Behm added that Hurt also accessed many other places in the car.
While speaking with Hurt, Behm said he could smell marijuana and noticed several plastic bags sticking out of Hurt’s right pocket.
After being removed from the vehicle and advised of his Miranda rights, Hurt allegedly admitted to possessing a marijuana blunt, which was then confiscated from him.
A subsequent search of Hurt’s vehicle found approximately 84.7 grams of a substance that tested positive for fentanyl in the area of the dashboard that Hurt had previously accessed.
According to Behm’s report, police also found a magnetic storage box in the van that could be stored underneath the vehicle.
Hurt was arrested for possession of fentanyl with intent to resell. He is being held at the North Central Regional Jail on $50,000 bail.
This is not the first time Hurt has been charged with drug offenses in Monongalia County.
In December 2023, Hurt was charged with four counts of willful possession and conspiracy to traffic in controlled substances.
In March, he was again charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to resell. He was released on $100,000 bail on both counts.
In April, he was arrested again on drug charges and released after posting $50,000 bail.
