Two charged after Lincoln County drug raid

A Lincoln County man and woman were charged Friday with possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia after the narcotics unit of Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office searched a home in Vale.

Hector Quiroz, 39, of Vale was charged Friday with possession of a weapon of mass destruction, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia, the sheriff’s office said Sunday.

Melissa Hoyle, 41, of Lincolnton was charged with possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, the sheriff’s office said.

According to the sheriff’s office, when detectives searched the property, they found guns – including an automatic rifle that had been illegally modified – methamphetamine, a digital scale and a large amount of ammunition.

Lt. Jon Propst said in a statement, “The way the guns were placed throughout the property, along with the meth, ammunition, and video surveillance makes for a dangerous combination. I am glad we were able to get these subjects off the streets before anyone was seriously injured.”

Hoyle and Quiroz are due in Lincoln County District Court Monday.

This story was originally published August 16, 2015 at 7:25 PM with the headline "Two charged after Lincoln County drug raid."