UNC students face cocaine charge

CHAPEL HILL -- Two UNC-Chapel Hill sorority members were charged with "constructive possession" of cocaine Monday even though police did not find any drugs on them.

Sarah Thomas Coxe, 19, of 313 E. Franklin St. and Elizabeth Roberts Cogdell, 19, of Fayetteville were arrested in connection with last week's drug bust, which led to the arrest of five current and former UNC-Chapel Hill students.

Both were present in the 211 Church St. apartment where police found $15,000 to $20,000 worth of cocaine Sept. 15, Lt. Kevin Gunter said.

The women were not charged at the time of those arrests because police were investigating other details at the scene, Gunter said. But they were told at the time that they could be charged within a matter of days for being around the drugs.

The women, who are members of the Chi Omega sorority, were charged with constructive possession Monday after police asked the District Attorney's Office to issue warrants for their arrest.

A person can be charged with constructive possession if she is not holding the property but has immediate access to it, according to Gunter.

In the case of Coxe and Cogdell, police said, the women were near the cocaine.

"We had probable cause to believe that this narcotic was basically theirs," Gunter said. "The cocaine location was close enough to them."

Both women were released after they each posted a $5,000 unsecured bond.

More arrests are expected as the investigation continues, police said.

Latest Comment View all comments