Deputies find crack, 'street folds' in man's vehicle

MARY ESTHER – A man was arrested after an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s deputy discovered crack and “street folds” in his vehicle.

The arrest took place June 19 in the parking lot of TGI Fridays, according to a report. Arrested was 39-year-old Jalmel Lafarn Merriel of Fort Walton Beach, who is charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.

According to the report, the deputy stopped Merriel’s vehicle for an inoperative tail light. He recognized Merriel from past narcotics-related investigations.

During the stop, a K9 unit alerted to the presence of narcotics in Merriel’s vehicle. It was searched and deputies found crack cocaine in the ashtray. They also found large sums of money in both the vehicle and Merriel’s wallet, arranged in “street folds,” a way that drug dealers maintain separate denominations.

Merriel’s plea date is July 23.