By Tom Embrey

Senior Writer

Two men claiming to be brothers are in jail facing multiple drug and weapons charges after a traffic stop on U.S. 1 Thursday night.

Aberdeen police arrested Michael Alen Lesinksi, 22, of Toledo, Ohio, and Matthew Robert Thomas, 20, of Aberdeen, after they found drugs, drug paraphernalia and a gun in their car.

Police stopped their vehicle at 6:02 p.m. on U.S. 1 near Saunders Boulevard after a tip from police investigators. After being stopped, the suspects agreed to allow police to search their vehicle, Deputy Chief Jim Foster said.

"Our officers called in Southern Pines and they brought a (drug-sniffing) dog and it hit on a void in the center console near the (vehicle's) shifter," Foster said. "The officers found 29 grams of cocaine, 75 grams of marijuana, digital scales and a .25-caliber handgun in the hidden console compartment."

Police charged Lesinski with carrying a concealed weapon, maintaining a place to keep controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a schedule II controlled substance, possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver cocaine, possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver marijuana, possession of a schedule VI controlled substance and two counts of trafficking in cocaine.

Police charged Thomas with carrying a concealed weapon, felony possession of schedule II controlled substance, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia possession of marijuana, possession of a schedule IV controlled substance, possession with intent to sell/deliver cocaine, possession with intent to sell/deliver marijuana, probation violation, simple possession of a schedule IV controlled substance, two counts of trafficking cocaine, and two counts of possession of a schedule II controlled substance.

Both men remained in the Moore County jail Friday.

Contact Tom Embrey by e-mail at tembrey@thepilot.com.