The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Interdiction Team Highway Unit arrested Dayvon Raynard McDowell, age 37, on April 13 following a traffic stop on I-85 in Trinity. Authorities said that after investigating the stop, they searched the vehicle and found marijuana and a firearm.
McDowell was transported to the Randolph County Detention Center. The magistrate found probable cause for felony possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana and felony possession of marijuana, setting a $10,000 secured bond for these charges. He was also charged with felony possession of a firearm by a felon, for which no bond was set. His first court appearance is scheduled for April 14 in Randolph County District Court.
This arrest comes as local schools continue to face challenges related to college readiness among students. Of 1,226 senior students taking the science portion of the ACT in Randolph County school districts during the 2022-23 school year, only 195—or about 15.9 percent—were considered ready for college according to state data. For juniors in science during that same period, just over one in ten students were deemed ready: out of 1,329 junior test-takers, only 189 (14.2 percent) met college readiness benchmarks according to state reports.
Reading scores showed slightly higher rates of readiness among seniors and juniors alike: Of seniors taking reading tests (1,226 total), about one-fourth—289 students (23.6 percent)—were considered prepared for college-level work as reported by state education officials. Among juniors taking reading exams (1,329 total), this figure stood at roughly one-fifth: 281 students or approximately 21.1 percent according to official statistics.
Math results indicated even lower levels of preparedness among both grade levels tested last year; just over one out of every ten seniors who took math scored at or above college-ready standards—160 out of 1,226 students (13.1 percent) according to state records. Junior math performance was similar: only about one in ten—134 out of 1,329 test-takers (10.1 percent)—met those standards state data show.
As McDowell awaits his initial court appearance on multiple felony charges stemming from this recent incident along I-85 in Trinity, issues around public safety and youth achievement remain key topics within Randolph County.
