ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) —
Asheville police arrested two men on gun and drug charges in separate incidents Tuesday, April 30.
According to a release from the Asheville Police Department, officers were conducting a crime prevention investigation near downtown after receiving complaints about illegal firearm activity.
When detectives and officers attempted to make contact with Brandon Norelle Miller, 36, on Granada Street, he fled on foot and was apprehended shortly after, the release said.
“While attempting to evade officers, he discarded a backpack that was found to contain a trafficking amount of fentanyl,” the APD news release said.
Miller was charged with trafficking in opium or heroin by possession (Level III), possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II, felony possess Schedule VI, possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule VI and resist delay or obstruct.
He was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility under a $75,000 secured bond.
Not long after that, officers made contact with Dontae Levon Simpson, 23, who was in legal possession of a firearm but had a trafficking amount of fentanyl with him, according to the news release.
Simpson was charged with trafficking in opium or heroin by possession (Level I) and simple possess Schedule II.
He was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility under a $30,000 secured bond.
Anyone with information about illegal gun or drug activity is encouraged to contact APD at 828-252-1110. Anonymous tips may also be sent using the TIP2APD smartphone application (search “Asheville PD” in your app store) or by texting TIP2APD to 847411.