The Thomasville City Council voted unanimously to suspend City Manager Kelly Craver following his arrest for on drug charges.
Details emerge the Saturday night incident that led to the arrest:
Craver, 54, of W. Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, was arrested at a residence on High Rock Lake after a Davidson County sheriff’s deputy responded to a 911 hang-up call placed at 11:37 p.m. Saturday from a home in the Oakwood Acres neighborhood, said Sheriff David Grice.
The deputy was searching for 188 Sunset Blvd., which was thought to be the source of the call. Grice said the house numbers are difficult to see in that part of the neighborhood, and the deputy approached 196 Sunset Blvd., which fit the general description of the address from the call. Grice said the home belongs to Lisa Lackey Menius, and Craver and his wife were apparently there visiting, along with Karen Annette Hamilton.
The deputy knocked on the door and after someone answered, he detected the smell of marijuana smoke coming from inside, Grice said. The deputy asked for permission to come in. The occupants granted him permission, and he observed a small quantity of what he suspected was marijuana and drug paraphernalia, on a table.
The deputy originally planned to issue citations, but Craver’s cooperation was deemed “insufficient,” so he was arrested. Yes, I realize marijuana is an illegal substance, but Craver was in a private home, minding his own business, when the deputy mistakenly came knocking at the door. He was not in a public place, and he was not driving, although it’s reasonable to assume he later could have been driving under the influence of marijuana later that evening.
Judge for yourselves, dear reader, if Craver should lose his job over this matter. I guess it’s not up to us, however. It’s up to the City Council. It will be interesting to see what happens.
