Deputies: Rowan County Fugitive Charged After Police Chase, Drugs & Guns Found | PHOTOS

Samantha Gilstrap,

ROWAN CO., N.C. — A Rowan County man was captured by police on Thursday and placed under arrest after two years on the run.

Police say Nathaniel Alexander Neri, 40, had an outstanding Federal Probation warrant and had been a fugitive since 2020.

On Thursday, March 17th, 2020, Neri was tracked down to a home in Rowan County.

Officers say while Neri was exiting the home and entering a silver Lincoln Town Car, they attempted to conduct a traffic stop.

Neri refused to stop and attempted to flee at over 100 mph as a police pursuit ensued, according to a news release.

During the chase, police say Neri crashed his car after driving southbound in the northbound lane of travel on Interstate 85.

Officers say Neri then fled on foot into a wooded area nearby and left a passenger in the car.

A search of the wooded area was then conducted and Neri was found a short time later, after he had run across Interstate 85.

Police say an inventory of the Lincoln which Neri fled in produced drug paraphernalia, suspected marijuana, and suspected MDMA.

Near the area Neri had run, police say they located a semi-automatic pistol.

As a convicted felon, Neri is prohibited from owning a firearm, according to a news release.

A follow-up investigation was then conducted at the home Neri was seen leaving before the police chase.

During this investigation, police say they discovered a total of five firearms including a 7.62 assault-style rifle with a high capacity magazine, (2) two 9mm semi-automatic pistols, a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, and (2) two semi-automatic pistols, a .380 caliber and a .25 caliber, both of which had been reported stolen.

Investigators also located large amounts of illicit narcotics.

Narcotics seized included approximately (37) thirty-seven ounces of suspected Heroin, (7.65) seven-point-six-five ounces of suspected Cocaine, and (20) twenty ounces of suspected Marijuana. These narcotics had a street value worth an excess of ($130,000.00) one-hundred and thirty-thousand dollars.

Investigators say drug paraphernalia and United States currency were also seized during this investigation.

Police say Neri was charged on Thursday with violations stemming from the car chase and was given a $9,000 secured bond.

On Friday, detectives filked additional charges against Neri for his involvement in this case.

These charges include:

  • Two Counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.
  • Two Counts Possession of a Stolen Firearm.
  • Trafficking in Opium or Heroin.
  • Trafficking in Cocaine.
  • Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Marijuana.

Police say Neri received an additional two million secured bond for these additional charges.

More charges are pending as the investigation continues.

Check back for updates.