Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Arrest

Lewes - The Delaware State Police have arrested a 21 year old man on several drug charges following a traffic stop early this morning in Lewes.

The incident began this morning, Saturday, March 28, 2015, at approximately 1:30 a.m., after a Delaware State Trooper on routine patrol on westbound SR24 just west of Mulberry Knoll Road, Lewes, observed a silver Honda Accord without its license plate light illuminated. The trooper activated the emergency equipment on his patrol vehicle and conducted a traffic stop of the Honda. As the trooper made contact with the operator of the vehicle, later identified as Nicholas T. Exler, 21, of Lewes, he immediately could detect the strong odor of marijuana coming from inside of the car. The trooper then had Exler exit his vehicle and upon conducting a pat down search of him, located a large bundle containing 130 baggies of heroin stamped with the word “Fire” or “Fat Boy” on them, in the cargo pocket of his pants. The trooper also located 3.8 grams of marijuana and 6.3 grams of cocaine inside of a plastic bag tucked into the rear of Exler’s pants, as well as over $275 in suspected drug sale proceeds. A subsequent search of Exler’s vehicle was then conducted at which time the trooper located a black BB gun which resembled a Glock semi-automatic hand gun under the front passenger seat.

Nicholas Exler was arrested and transported to Troop 7, Lewes, where he was charged with Possession with the Intent to Deliver Cocaine, Possession with the Intent to Deliver Heroin, two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance in a Tier 1 Quantity, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Driving with an Expired License, and Failure to Have a License Plate Light. He was arraigned at JP Court 3 and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution for lack of $14,300.00 secured bail.