93-year-old Man Charged With Trafficking Cocaine

Durham, N.C. — A 93-year-old Durham man charged with cocaine-trafficking was released on bond Friday, a day after police raids netted three other people on charges of possessing heroine, opium and a slew of prescription drugs.

Police raided two apartments, and the Special Operations Division conducted an undercover operation on Thursday, police said.

Investigators arrested William C. Tinnen, 93, after raiding his house at 204 Teel Street. Officers also confiscated three firearms from the house.

Tinnen faces additional charges of possessing drug paraphernalia and maintaining a dwelling for the sale of drugs. He was released from jail Friday after meeting a $200,000 bond, said Kammie Michael, spokeswoman for the Durham Police Department.

Tinnen was given a suspended sentence for cocaine possession in 2001, Michael said.

Police arrested a mother and son for trafficking heroin or opium after raiding their apartment at 1113-B Gurley Street. Officers also found cocaine and a number of prescription drugs, including Percocet, Oxycodone and Vicodon, in the apartment.

Ryheme McLaurin, 25, and Doris Faye McLaurin, 52, are also charged with maintaining a dwelling for the sale of drugs and other felony drug offenses.

An undercover operation resulted in the arrest of Francisco Morales Medina, 38, of Ellis Road, on methamphetamine trafficking charges. Police confiscated 11 grams of cocaine, 70 grams of methamphetamine and a Ford pick-up truck during Medina's arrest.

Investigators said dealing of methamphetamine has been relatively rare in Durham.

Medina faces two charges of with two counts of trafficking methamphetamine, possession of cocaine and methamphetamine with the intent to sell or deliver, maintaining a vehicle for the sale and delivery of drugs and sale and delivery of methamphetamine.