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A passenger in the vehicle with Michael Stansbury — Jeffery Somma — also faces similar counts, Captain A.M. Harris of the City County Drug Task Force said in a statement this morning.

The charges stem from a traffic stop initiated shortly after 9:30 p.m. for a motor vehicle violation on Highway 48 near Nation Road which was made by Agent D.W. McKeel. The subsequent chase led to the seizure of 554 grams of cocaine.

Harris arrived to assist McKeel on the traffic stop. While McKeel was checking the driving status and warrants through Halifax Central Communications, Stansbury reportedly left the stop at a high rate of speed.

McKeel and Harris chased the vehicle and deputies from B Squad of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area.

During the chase Stansbury turned onto Grant Drive.  

While traveling down Grant Drive agents noticed a white package thrown from the driver’s side window and land in a yard near a ditch.  

Harris retrieved the package while others continued the chase.  

The chase ended 13 minutes later in the 900 block of Highway 903.  

McKeel arrested and charged Stansbury, 45, of Littleton, with trafficking in cocaine by transport, trafficking in cocaine by possession, felony possession of cocaine, possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, maintaining a vehicle or dwelling for a controlled substance, flee to elude arrest, reckless driving to endanger, fail to heed light or siren, passing in a no passing zone and stop sign violation.

Somma, 50, also of Littleton, was arrested and charged with trafficking in cocaine by transport, trafficking in cocaine by possession, felony possession of cocaine, possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia

Stansbury received a $60,000 cash bond and Somma received a $40,000 cash bond. Both have April 18 court dates.

Estimated street value of the cocaine is approximately $33,240.

Harris, who could not immediately be reached for comment this morning, said in the statement the task force is “very familiar with Michael Stansbury,” noting a January arrest in 2017 in which numerous drugs and guns were seized and one the following month in which more drugs were confiscated.

There is no current indication in state court records when Stansbury is expected to appear in court on the previous counts or in state Department of Public Safety records whether a conviction was made on the 2017 charges.