Hall County sheriff’s investigators charged a Gainesville man with drug trafficking after finding more than a quarter-million dollars worth of drugs in his vehicle, officials say.
The case began as a suspicious person call on the south end of the county Wednesday evening, June 7.
At approximately 9:50 p.m., deputies responded to the call about an unknown man walking around outside the caller’s home in the 7000 block of Williams Road.
As deputies arrived, they observed a man getting out of an SUV and running away on foot, a news release from the sheriff’s office states. The man fled from the area, despite commands to stop. Deputies identified him as Michael Gonzalez-Powell, 30, of Gainesville.
An HCSO K9 unit responded to the area and began tracking Gonzalez-Powell, who had a warrant for a felony probation violation. Deputies captured him around 11:45 p.m. Wednesday near the original call location.
As they prepared the vehicle Gonzalez-Powell left at the residence for towing, deputies inventoried the contents. Officials say they found suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine inside the SUV.
Due to the quantity of drugs, investigators with the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) responded. They obtained warrants for Gonzalez-Powell on charges of trafficking each drug.
Officials say they seized approximately 800 grams of fentanyl and 500 grams of methamphetamine from the vehicle. The estimated combined street value of the drugs is $275,000.
In addition to the drug trafficking charges, authorities charged Gonzalez-Powell with misdemeanor obstruction of an officer for running from deputies.
He remained in jail without bond on Thursday afternoon, June 8. The case remains under investigation by SIU. Additional charges are pending.
