Muncie man held on fentanyl-dealing charge after police chase

MUNCIE, Ind. — A Muncie man was arrested Wednesday night on a fentanyl-dealing count after leading authorities on a high-speed chase.

Eric Douglas Newton II, 30, was being held without bond Thursday in the Delaware County Jail, preliminarily charged with dealing in a narcotic drug and resisting law enforcement.

According to an affidavit, Newton on Oct. 10, 2023, sold 200 fentanyl pills for $450, to an informant for the Muncie-Delaware County Drug Task Force. The transaction allegedly took place outside a business on Muncie's south side.

On Wednesday, task force investigators reportedly saw Newton driving a Hyundai SUV with South Carolina license plates. When they tried to pull his vehicle over on Delaware County Road 700-South, he allegedly fled at a high rate of speed.

During the ensuing chase, Newton reportedly ran over stop sticks deployed by Delaware County sheriff's deputy, flattening one of his tires.

Near Sixth and Blaine streets, he allegedly ran from his vehicle, and was captured after a brief foot chase.

Investigators said they recovered two handguns thrown from the SUV along County Road 700-South. DNA was taken from Newton and two passengers in his vehicle to determine if they could be linked to the firearms.

The preliminary dealing count against Newton is a Level 2 felony carrying up to 30 years in prison. The Delaware County prosecutor's office will determine what formal charged might be filed.

In September 2023, Newton was charged with attempted murder after he was accused of shooting his 22-year-old girlfriend . That case is still pending.

In another case, filed in April 2022, he is charged with domestic battery, residential entry, interference with the reporting of a crime and theft.

According to court records, Newton has been convicted of dealing in cocaine or a narcotic drug, carrying a handgun without a license, escape and theft.

D ouglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Muncie man held on fentanyl-dealing charge after police chase