WILSON’S MILLS – A man reportedly asleep behind the wheel of a self-driving car was arrested on multiple charges.
On Friday, August 23 around 4:00pm, Wilson’s Mills Police were notified of a white Tesla heading westbound on US 70. The driver reportedly appeared to be asleep.
Officer located the Tesla and attempted to stop the vehicle, but it did not immediately do so. The car traveled for about one mile, with the driver still asleep, police said.
Police Chief A.Z. Williams said officers were able to position their police vehicles in front of the Tesla to engage its sensors and stop. After waking up the driver, officers conducted a field sobriety test and performed a consent search of the vehicle.
Chief Williams said the search yielded several dozen boxes of “vape pens” that contained various illegal substances including 200 grams worth of THC (marijuana), 400 grams of methamphetamine, and 400 grams of MDMA/Ecstasy. The illegal narcotics had a potential street value of $100,000.
“It’s sad the levels of criminal activity that we see today. That someone can literally get busted asleep behind the wheel driving a motor vehicle. It would be comical if it weren’t such a serious and dangerous offense. And that doesn’t even include the illegal drug aspect,” Chief Williams told The Johnston County Report.
The driver, Michael Goodman, 25, of La Grange, NC was arrested and charged with trafficking MDMA, trafficking methamphetamine, possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, felony possession of marijuana, reckless driving, and failure to heed emergency lights/siren.
Goodman was given a $50,000 secured bond.
