Zaquan Markel Taste, a 28-year-old convicted felon from Holly Hill, was arrested Sunday morning, December 28, 2025, in North Charleston, S.C., on charges of possessing a firearm as a person convicted of a violent felony. North Charleston Police stopped a vehicle around 1:25 a.m. on Ashley Phosphate Road near hotels for multiple traffic violations and detected marijuana odor, leading to a search. Officers found about 10 grams of marijuana hidden on one occupant, 20 grams on the passenger seat, and a handgun under a black coat linked to Taste.​
Charge Details
The firearm possession charge applies to individuals with prior violent felony convictions under South Carolina law, prohibiting them from owning or carrying guns. Taste was booked into Al Cannon Detention Center following the stop. No other occupants faced gun charges, though marijuana was seized from the vehicle.​
Context in Region
This arrest aligns with ongoing North Charleston Police efforts targeting firearms among prohibited persons during routine traffic enforcement. Similar incidents in the area often involve marijuana detection prompting searches that uncover weapons. Taste remains in custody as of latest reports.
