ROCKY MOUNT – A Johnston County man was arrested on numerous charges after reportedly being caught with a quantity of Fentanyl in his car.
A Nash County deputy, on patrol around 2:30am Tuesday, was traveling on the southbound entrance ramp to Interstate 95 in Rocky Mount when he spotted a black SUV stationary in the roadway with the hazard lights flashing. The deputy checked to see if the occupants needed any assistance.
The driver, an Erwin resident, reportedly told the deputy she was coming from Virginia and had ran out of gas. Keith Antonio McDougald, age 33, of the 1100 block of N. Honeycutt Street, Benson was in the passenger seat.
The deputy noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the SUV and after further investigation allegedly discovered McDougald had 41 grams of Fentanyl and 2 grams of methamphetamine in his possession. A pistol was also found under the front seat and an AR-15 rifle was located, concealed by a towel, on the back passenger floorboard.
Authorities determined McDougald was a convicted felon and not allowed to possess any firearm. They also determined he was in control of the vehicle.
McDougald was transported to the Nash County Detention Center where he was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a controlled substance, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was held under a $245,000 bond.
Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone stated, “Our citizens need to know the impact of Fentanyl, and the dangers it is causing to our families.”
These cases are increasing dramatically both locally and statewide, Sheriff Stone said. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, as two milligrams, about the size of 5 grains of salt, can cause negative health effects including trouble breathing, dizziness, and possible overdose.
Fentanyl is a Schedule II controlled substance that is similar to morphine but about 100 times more potent. Fentanyl is being mixed in with other illicit drugs to increase the potency of the drug, sold as powders and nasal sprays, and increasingly pressed into pills made to look like legitimate prescription opioids. Drug are mixing fentanyl with other drugs including heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine, increasing the likelihood of a fatal interaction.
According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, in 2021, more than 4,000 North Carolinians died of drug overdoses, which is the state’s highest record number of overdose deaths in a single year. More than 77% of those deaths likely involved fentanyl.
Life in prison for Fentanyl distribution.
Yeah, good luck with that
They travel like this is Mexico when picking up their drugs. In this case, stupid is a good thing because there’s some hard drugs that didn’t make it. Its time we hit the cartels in this country with military force.
OH Please, stop comparing the US with Mexico.
Mexico doesn’t even produce Fentanyl
That man has a lengthy history, I hope this actually results in some lengthy active time. It’s past due.
She was driving but not charged? I guess she had no idea he was in possession of the weapon She probably thought the drugs were candy and didn’t think he might be a felon. LOL
I’m sure his family it’s going to say he’s a great guy and father figure to a lot kids in the block.
The criminal justice system at its finest….lengthy criminal history and he is out walking the streets….thanks dems.
LESS THAN 24 hour ago just Lost a good friend in Smithfield NC.She thought she was BUYING POWDER COCAINE and come to find out the person sold her fentanyl.God Bless her soul. We Love 💕 you (RIP)
Probably shouldn’t be buying cocaine either lmao
Omg! Who was it bro?
Let’s make sure this or these persons do pay for this possession. It is hard to help someone that is hooked on these drugs if we can’t even stop the sale, transport or possession of them.
I will pray for the hardest of punishment to be done.