THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, January 4, 1997             TAG: 9701040337
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: MANNS HARBOR                      LENGTH:   40 lines

MAN, 24, CHARGED WITH SELLING COCAINE TO OFFICER

A 24-year-old resident of this quiet Dare County mainland community was arrested Friday morning and charged with one count of selling cocaine to an undercover police officer.

Other charges may be filed against Michael Ray Midgett following a Monday session of a Dare County grand jury. Midgett was arrested after officers kicked in the door of the red, frame duplex where he lives. A second suspect, who shares a portion of the rental house with Midgett, is being sought.

Midgett is the latest in what is expected to be a series of arrests in a countywide drug sweep. On Jan. 2, two Kill Devil Hills residents were taken into custody, each on one count of trafficking cocaine. Additional arrests, however, are not expected until after Monday's grand jury session.

Agents from the State Bureau of Investigation, the Dare County Sheriff's Office and the Kill Devil Hills Police Department carried out the Manns Harbor search shortly before 11 a.m. Friday. A decorated Christmas tree stood in the corner as agents combed the home looking for narcotics and related material.

``It was a run-of-the-mill search,'' SBI Special Agent Donnie Varnell said. ``Officers knocked on the door, and identified themselves three times before forcing their way into the residence.''

Midgett didn't answer the door, but once the officers were inside, he offered no resistance.

A large boot print remained on the door, a reminder of the officers' entry.

``We're looking for narcotics, scales, toll books, records, anything that will strengthen our case,'' said Varnell. Investigators said they found a small quantity of cocaine, with a street value estimated at $500, and some drug paraphernalia at the residence.

Varnell said that along with the work of undercover agents, patrol unit surveillance and information from within the community led to Friday's arrest.

Midgett was being held on $10,000 bond in the Dare County Detention Center Friday afternoon.

KEYWORDS: COCAINE ARREST NORTH CAROLINA