Bail has been set at $100,000 for a 38-year-old Longview man accused of having fentanyl during a traffic stop in Napavine July 21.
Michael Neal Brown on Tuesday made an initial appearance in Lewis County Superior Court where he was charged with possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
According to charging documents, on July 21, Napavine officer Taylor Nichols was on patrol when he observed a black sedan at the Eagle Truck Stop. A check on the license plate revealed the registered owner to be Brown, who had an active federal warrant for his arrest.
The sedan exited the parking lot and proceeded onto state Route 508 toward Interstate 5 when the officer initiated a traffic stop.
“Prior to the traffic stop, Ofc. Nichols contacted Deputy Jared Kasinger, who had a K9 partner trained in detecting narcotics,” according to the probable cause affidavit filed by prosecutors. “Neal was contacted and removed from the vehicle, where he was then placed in restraints. Dep. Kasinger then arrived and conducted a K9 search on the vehicle. The search showed the presence of controlled substances inside the vehicle. Based on this, the two other occupants were detained.”
During a search of the vehicle, police found a purse that contained drug paraphernalia, baggies with a crystalline substance, tinfoil with a white powdery substance, a digital scale with residue and $58 in cash.
“Also discovered were glass smoking devices, commonly used to inhale controlled substances,” court documents state. “A search of the center console revealed a driver's license, $75 and two baggies of suspected methamphetamine that were contained in a case for glasses. During a search of (a passenger), Deputy Tyler Randt-Williams discovered $650 and $6,530, who claimed the money was from recently selling a vehicle.”
Another one of the passengers spoke with Nichols at the police department.
“She was advised of Miranda warnings and stated that she has purchased controlled substances from Neal in the past,” court documents state. “She said she recently connected with him and purchased a ‘quarter’ of fentanyl about two to three days prior. She said she paid him $200 for the ‘quarter.’ She said she was planning on purchasing more fentanyl from Neal today, but the deal had not been finalized. She said that Neal drove to Tumwater where he purchased a large quantity of fentanyl powder in the Costco parking lot she described as being in a plastic ziplock baggie. She said Neal then transferred the baggie to a grocery bag. Ofc. Nichols showed (the woman) the baggie he had recovered from inside the vehicle, and she verified that was the one purchased by Neal in Tumwater.”
Brown has previous felony convictions for delivery of a controlled substance, third-degree assault, criminal impersonation and burglary. He has a federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm and had an active warrant from the U.S. Marshals in Seatac prior to his arrest in Napavine.
Brown has had 13 warrants issued for his arrest in the past.
Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer cited Brown’s criminal history and the warrant for his arrest when asking for bail to be set at $100,000. Defense attorney Rachael Tiller asked for bail to be set at $40,000 or less.
Lewis County Superior Court Judge J. Andrew Toynbee agreed with the prosecution, setting bail at $100,000.
Brown is next due in court for a review hearing on July 31.
