The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office reported the following, according to Major Anzell Harris:

A Roanoke Rapids man awaiting a 2026 superior court date for trafficking in the city and a January 22 district court date in Carteret County for charges including death by distribution was arrested and charged for fleeing after Halifax Regional Drug and Gang Task Force agents attempted to stop him for the Carteret warrants.

Agents attempted to initiate the stop of Zabriel Maurice Johnson, 31, on Highway 125 near Old Farm Road. He refused to stop and continued driving down Highway 125 towards Interstate 95 before agents used law enforcement vehicle techniques to end the pursuit and take him into custody.

The agents were searching for Johnson because of Carteret County Sheriff’s Office warrants issued last month for death by distribution, possession with the intent to sell/deliver cocaine, possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver schedule II controlled substance, sell/deliver cocaine and sell/deliver schedule II controlled substance. 

These charges stemmed from an overdose death that occurred on October 19, 2023.

After Johnson was in custody, a canine was deployed to sniff the vehicle and probable cause was gained to search the truck. 

A search of the truck resulted in agents finding a bottle containing liquid that agents believed to contain cocaine and there was cocaine spilled on the driver’s seat and floorboard, a signal that he was trying to get rid of the substances during his attempted flight.

Agents applied for and were granted a search warrant for Johnson’s residence in the Southgate area of Roanoke Rapids. 

A search of the house resulted in agents locating numerous items of drug paraphernalia consistent with preparing drugs for sale, a quantity of marijuana, fentanyl, different types of prescription pills, two firearms and currency.

Johnson was served the warrants from Carteret County. He is currently in the Halifax County Detention with a hold from Carteret County in which he is not eligible for bond due to his pending superior court date in Halifax County for a 2020 case in which he was charged by the Roanoke Rapids Police Department.

The task force levied charges against Johnson for the stop and the subsequent search warrant.

He faces the following charges:

Two counts of trafficking cocaine, felony possession cocaine, possession with intent to sell/deliver cocaine, felony possession of schedule II controlled substance, felony maintain vehicle with controlled substance, felony maintain dwelling with controlled substance, two counts of simple possession schedule II controlled substance, simple possession schedule III controlled substance, simple possession schedule IV controlled substance, possession of marijuana up to one-half ounce, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana drug paraphernalia and flee to elude arrest with motor vehicle.

Johnson had a first district court appearance on those charges today and now has a $250,000 secured bond, according to detention center records.

The task force was assisted with the car chase and search warrant by the Roanoke Rapids Police Department Criminal Investigation Division, Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Patrol, Criminal Investigation and Transport Divisions. 

Tanager Lane search warrant

Early Thursday morning task force agents executed a narcotics search warrant on Tanager Lane in the Hollister area following an investigation of 42-year-old Dustin Leroth Washington for selling cocaine. 

Harris said Washington has had prior history with law enforcement, selling and manufacturing drugs in the past. 

Washington caught the attention of agents when the sheriff’s office was searching for a wanted person for several months last year.  

Agents began investigating Washington and confirmed he was selling crack cocaine in the community. 

After searching the residence Thursday, agents located a quantity of crack cocaine, powder cocaine and marijuana. 

Washington was arrested and charged with felony possession of cocaine, simple possession of schedule VI controlled substance and maintaining a vehicle/dwelling with a controlled substance. 

He received an $8,000 bond and has a January 23 district court date.

CID, the patrol division, patrol captain and chief deputy assisted.