Call of gunshot wound yields drug arrest

Deputies responding to a Beaufort hospital Sunday for a gunshot wound investigation found more than they bargained for when they found drugs on a man they were interviewing about the incident.

As a deputy interviewed the gunshot victim at Beaufort Memorial Hospital, he was notified by another deputy that narcotics had been found on a person they were interviewing in the hospital about how the victim was shot, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office report.

Deputies eventually arrested Joshua Paige, 21, of Beaufort, and charged him with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of methamphetamine after they found three plastic bags with suspected marijuana inside and several dollar bills.

As deputies counted the money, they unfolded one bill and a white powder was inside. Paige told them it was “Molly,” the report said.

When Paige was told he was going to the Beaufort County Detention Center, he told deputies he had more marijuana in his shoes.

Four plastic bags with suspected marijuana inside were found inside them.

The white powder later tested positive for methamphetamine and a total of 6.1 grams of marijuana was recovered from Paige, the report said.

He was taken to the Beaufort County Detention Center and is being held on a $15,000 bond.

This story was originally published February 9, 2016 at 3:14 PM with the headline "Call of gunshot wound yields drug arrest."