A Fayetteville man is facing a felony drug charge months after Aberdeen police discovered suspected narcotics during a routine traffic stop.
According to the Aberdeen Police Department, officers pulled over a vehicle on June 18, 2025, for an equipment violation and detected the smell of marijuana coming from inside. The driver, 36-year-old Branston Brunson, admitted that marijuana was in the vehicle, and officers located it during their search. He was arrested and charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession at the scene.
During the arrest, officers also found a bag of unidentified pills in Brunson’s pocket. The pills were sent to the State Crime Lab, which confirmed on August 29 that they contained methamphetamine.
A warrant for felony possession of methamphetamine was issued the following day, but early attempts to locate Brunson were unsuccessful, police said.
On November 20, Aberdeen investigators, with assistance from the Southern Pines Police Department, located Brunson in Southern Pines and took him into custody. He was presented before a Moore County magistrate and given a $2,500 secured bond.
All suspects and persons charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
