‘Escapade’ with box of marijuana leads to neighborhood ‘liquor house,’ NC cops say

What started as a police chase turned into something completely different when the suspect tossed a “large box” of marijuana and witnesses quickly hauled it away, according to investigators in North Carolina.

It happened around 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21, in Dunn, and a search of the neighborhood revealed the men who took the box were affiliated with a well stocked “liquor house,” the Dunn Police Department said in a news release.

The discovery came as the result of a routine traffic stop that turned into a pursuit along North Wilson Avenue.

“The driver ... eventually lost control of his vehicle and fled on foot. While running, he threw a large box containing marijuana on the sidewalk in front of (a home),” police said.

“The resident of (the home) and another male .... decided to take advantage of this and grabbed the marijuana. They brought the marijuana back into the out building behind (the home). Unfortunately, the dash camera of the initial officer captured this entire escapade on video.”

A search of the property recovered the marijuana, “along with gallons of non-tax paid alcohol, powder and crack cocaine, a fire arm and other elements of criminal activity synonymous with a ‘liquor house’,” the release said.

“These liquor houses are a nuisance to society often times bringing with them drugs, alcohol violations, shootings and other criminal activity,” police officials said.

Three men were arrested and charged with felonies, including the suspect accused of tossing the box of marijuana and the men accused of hauling it away, police said.

Among the charges filed against the suspected “liquor house” operator: possession of non-tax paid liquor (five gallons); violations of gambling laws; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; felony conspiracy; felony possession of marijuana and felony possession of cocaine, police said.

Dunn is about a 40-mile drive south from Raleigh

This story was originally published November 24, 2025 at 12:02 PM with the headline "‘Escapade’ with box of marijuana leads to neighborhood ‘liquor house,’ NC cops say."