Report: Suspect Flushes Evidence During Arrest

CLEVELAND – A Johnston County man is accused of resisting an officer and in the process flushing suspected narcotics down the toilet.
 
Around 1:00pm Tuesday, Johnston County deputies were dispatched to Just Tires on Bratton Drive, off Highway 42 near I-40. An employee at the business called and said a man had been in the restroom for about one hour. When someone went to check on him the person appeared to be incoherent.

Deputies said they found 38 year-old William Thomas Woodhouse Jr., of Smith Road, Smithfield still in the bathroom. When an officer approached him, Woodhouse allegedly reached into his pocket, pulled a clear bag from a cigarette pack and tossed it in the toilet. The deputy attempted to prevent Woodhouse from flushing the bag, however Woodhouse was able to get an arm free and flush.

Woodhouse was eventually subdued. During a search, 19 Suboxone pills and a folded $1 bill with white powder was reportedly found in his possession.

Woodhouse was charged with feloniously destroying criminal evidence, misdemeanor resisting a public officer, and three misdemeanor drug violations.  He was given a $15,000 secured bond.

The white powder in the $1 bill was sent to the NC SBI lab for testing.  Additional charges have not been ruled out.