ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Police in Elizabeth City arrested a couple on Saturday after a domestic violence incident led officers to discover a large amount of illegal drugs.
Around 3 a.m., officers went to the scene of a reported gunshot victim on Herrington Road, according to a news release from the Elizabeth City Police Department (ECPD).
The victim, 42-year-old victim Darren Jernigan, was already on his way to Sentara Albemarle Medical Center when officers arrived. Police say Jernigan had a single gunshot wound in his right arm and was treated and released from the hospital.
About four hours later, emergency dispatchers got a call from Porscha Brown, Jernigan's 36-year-old girlfriend. She told police Jernigan was assaulting her at a residence in the 1600 block of Brookridge Drive.
Police say officers went out to the residence and identified Brown as the suspect from the earlier shooting incident. They also found "evidence" and conducted a search of the residence, which uncovered a large amount of marijuana and other illegal drugs.
Brown was arrested and charged with:
- Assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill inflicting serious injury
- Discharging a firearm within city limits
- Domestic violence assault
Elizabeth City police initially said Brown was also charged with drug trafficking, but later issued a correction saying she was charged with that offense.
Jernigan was also arrested and charged with:
- Possession with intent to sell/distribute a schedule VI controlled substance
- Maintaining a dwelling to keep a controlled substance
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
Both Brown and Jernigan will appear in Pasquotank County District Court on Monday.