Inmate caught with suspected cocaine

August 24, 2010

A Catawba County sheriff’s deputy found Sunday what appears to be crack cocaine under the mattress of a county inmate.

Deputy D. Roberts was serving lunch in the Catawba County Detention Facility when he saw Curese Devin McIlwain, 25, standing on the toilet in his cell.

According to the arrest report, Roberts saw McIlwain “attempting to do something to the vent in his cell.”

Roberts continued with his duties in the detention facility but returned to McIlwain’s cell shortly after.

In the arrest report narrative, Roberts said McIlwain seemed, “abnormally nervous and appeared to not want me in his cell.”

Roberts then conducted a search of McIlwain’s cell, where he found a small plastic bag filled with three distinctive rocks of what appeared to be crack cocaine.

McIlwain was charged with felony possession of cocaine and given a $5,000 secured bond.

According to the arrest report, the sample will be sent to a laboratory for testing.