Roanoke Rapids police are looking for a man who now faces additional charges from a December traffic stop.

The charges against Willie Albert Alston Jr. reflect fentanyl trafficking counts and warrants were obtained by Officer B. Council following positive tests of a substance he reportedly dumped into the center console of his vehicle following the December 5 stop, Chief Bobby Martin said in a statement.

At the time of the stop, Alston was driving without a license. Council conducted the stop on East Tenth Street.

Council suspected Alston of being in possession of narcotics. “In an apparent attempt to deter police detection, Alston dumped a white powdery substance into a cup in the center console of the vehicle,” Martin said in the statement.

The contents of the cup were seized and sent to the North Carolina Department of Justice  Crime Lab where further testing determined the substance contained fentanyl. 

Pursuant to the lab results confirming Council’s original suspicions of Alston reportedly having narcotics in the vehicle, additional warrants were obtained for Alston’s arrest on charges of trafficking in opium by possession; trafficking in opium by transport; and possession with intent to sell and deliver schedule II controlled substances.

Alston is known to frequent the area commonly referred to as the Strip in Weldon.

Martin said the testing showed 128 grams of fentanyl were poured into the console cup.

Alston has several pending court dates in both the superior and district court level for a number of different counts.

Martin said Alston is encouraged to surrender to Roanoke Rapids police.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the police department at 252-533-2810 or Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.