Orlando Lopez mugshot: Coke and meth North Carolina arrest suspect stirs up social media as Robeson County Sheriff’s Office pleads for civility.
A North Carolina sheriff is asking for kindness after the mugshot of a Florida man arrested on drug trafficking charges went viral – receiving a swath of negative comments.
Orlando Lopez, 43, of Palm Coast, Fla., was pulled over Friday for a traffic violation on North Carolina’s I-95. Officers subsequently found 98 grams of cocaine and 35 grams of meth in his vehicle, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook.
Lopez was charged with two counts of trafficking in methamphetamine, two counts of trafficking in cocaine, possession with intent to sell and several other charges. He was held on a $250,000 bond.
However, it wasn’t Lopez’s crime that triggered comments on social media.
Following cops posting a mugshot of the suspect on Facebook, users began to pile on leaving an avalanche of comments about Lopez’s appearance.
Wrote one individual: ‘It’s good to see Robeson County’s Sheriff’s Department putting a real dent in drug trafficking!’
Posted another, ‘If this guy had half a brain he’d make better choices.’
The sheriff’s office seeking civility was forced to leave a note in the release, reading:
‘Even though this individual has been charged for committing a crime, he is still someone’s child/family member,’ the department wrote. ‘It is obvious that he has suffered some type of injury. Please refrain from making jokes/negative comments. Have a blessed day.’
A majority of users echoed the department’s statement and condemned those leaving making jokes about Lopez’s appearance.
Wrote one user on Facebook, ‘Clearly he has suffered a TBI and has had a portion of his skull removed. The mockery regarding the “dent” in his head shows immaturity. SMH.’
