Bluffton man charged after gun, suspected cocaine found in vehicle

A Bluffton man faces drug and weapons charges following his arrest late Wednesday night. During the arrest at a Bluffton gas station, deputies drew their handguns.

Liam Normoyle, 24, was charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine along with unlawful carry of a firearm after deputies responded to the Kangaroo Express on Fording Island Road around 11:30 p.m., according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office report.

When the second deputy arrived, he found the first pointing a firearm at a vehicle with Normoyle inside.

The report said Normoyle’s hands were outside of the driver’s side window, and a small black handgun was sitting within his reach in the passenger’s seat.

The deputies were able to secure the firearm and handcuff Normoyle, the report said.

As they searched the vehicle, one deputy found suspected cocaine inside Normoyle’s wallet, the report said.

They also found a digital scale and an off-white substance, suspected to be crack cocaine, that weighed 1.7 grams, the report said.

Normoyle was taken to the Beaufort County Detention Center and is being held on a $25,000 bond.

This story was originally published April 15, 2016 at 3:33 PM with the headline "Bluffton man charged after gun, suspected cocaine found in vehicle."