At his first district court appearance Wednesday, a Pleasant Hill man charged with possession of fentanyl while his 7-month-old child was in the backseat was assigned a public defender. According to court records, the attorney has already requested discovery in the case.

Evan Paige Carroll, 28, also had his bond modified to $20,000 secured. He was initially held in the Halifax County Detention Center under no bond.

Carroll was arrested Tuesday evening after Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Deputy M. Thomas and Sergeant A. Wood observed a vehicle stopped in the roadway on West Fifth Street near Monroe Street in Roanoke Rapids.

While the vehicle was not moving, Major Anzell Harris said in a statement that the transmission was still in drive.

Carroll was reportedly unconscious behind the wheel with his child in a rear car seat, Harris said. The deputies administered aid to Carroll and placed the vehicle in park. He eventually regained consciousness.

Harris said deputies discovered Carroll was allegedly in possession of fentanyl, which the warrant stated was concealed by a lottery ticket and aluminum foil.

Halifax County EMS was called to evaluate Carroll and the child. The infant was released to a responsible family member, and the sheriff’s office filed a report with social services, Harris said.

Carroll was arrested and charged with felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and child abuse. He remains in the Halifax County Detention Center.

Lieutenant E. Richardson and Corporal R. Lafayette assisted.