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Stafford, VA – A 36-year-old Lignum man has been charged with felony possession of a controlled substance following an incident at a local inn.

On Tuesday around 10:30 p.m., Sergeant BU Demirci and Deputy CR Newman were called to America’s Best Value Inn on Warrenton Road. Reports indicated a shirtless man acting erratically, which led officers to locate him near the I-95 interchange. The man has been identified as Bennie Smith.

Smith admitted to being at the inn but claimed he was heading to another motel on Warrenton Road. Showing signs of intoxication, Smith was subsequently arrested and taken to the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

At the jail, Smith dropped a small object with a white powder while changing into prison garb. The officers and Smith scrambled for the object, which Smith attempted to swallow. Deputy Newman stepped in to secure both Smith and the substance. Smith was charged with public drunkenness, felony tampering with evidence and obstruction of justice. His original holding was replaced with a $5,000 secured bond.