Full Notification

Recently, law enforcement agencies within Beaufort County—the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Beaufort Police Department, the Town of Bluffton Police Department and the Town of Port Royal Police Department—entered into a partnership to coordinate resources and efforts in identifying, investigating and apprehending those involved in violent crimes—gun violence, gang activity, sale of illegal drugs, etc.
 
Within the past month, investigators assigned to the new unit—the Beaufort County Violent Crimes Task Force—received and investigated information that 39-year-old Dwayne Hamilton of Bluffton was engaged in the sale of crack and powder cocaine. Last night, after the month-long investigation corroborated the information, investigators conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Hamilton in a parking lot off of Malphrus Road in Bluffton. During the traffic stop, it was determined that Hamilton was driving with a suspended license, and he was arrested. When investigators searched the interior of the vehicle operated by Hamilton, they discovered and seized several grams of crack cocaine and several grams of powder cocaine.
 
Following the discovery of the crack and powder cocaine in the vehicle, and in addition to the Driving Under Suspension charge, Dwayne Hamilton was charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine. Hamilton was transported to the Beaufort County Detention Center and incarcerated. This morning, Hamilton’s bonds for the three offenses totaled $31,270, which he posted and has since been released.
 
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office looks forward to our continued partnership with the municipalities in the Beaufort County Violent Crimes Task Force initiative. And as always, thank you for your commitment to the safety of our community.