Traffic Stop in Spindale Leads to Multiple Arrests

On 5/27/26, members of the Tri-City Violent Crimes Task Force were patrolling Spindale St and Grose St in Spindale, NC. A vehicle with illegal window tint and a registration violation was identified as a possible vehicle of interest, and a traffic stop was attempted on Spindale St. The vehicle initially yielded to blue lights and siren by coming to a stop before continuing to slowly drive away from law enforcement, failing to heed to blue lights and siren. The vehicle eventually came to a stop on Church St in Spindale, NC, by pulling into a vacant residence’s driveway.

A “known risk” traffic stop was then conducted due to the vehicle's erratic behavior. A “known risk” traffic stop is when officers do not approach the vehicle but instead call the occupants out in a controlled manner. It was discovered that the vehicle was occupied by four people, including Matthew Donte Young. Officers immediately recognized Young as a subject who was actively wanted by the US Marshals Service for absconding from federal parole. The driver of the vehicle was later identified as Alec Dana Foster of Charlotte, NC; the two rear passengers were identified as Kevin Andra Hamilton of Spindale, NC, and Haley Marie Pate of Spindale, NC.

After all occupants were detained, officers with TCVCTF performed a quick safety check of the vehicle and immediately noticed illegal narcotics in plain view. In plain view, in the back passenger area, were two small tied bags containing what was immediately apparent to be methamphetamine and a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine or fentanyl.

With illegal narcotics in plain view, a probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted, with more illegal substances being located in other areas of the vehicle. In total, the following

illegal narcotics were seized in total:

-7.8 Grams of Counterfeit Pressed Fentanyl Pills

-6.4 Grams of Fentanyl

-4.5 Grams of Psilocybin Mushrooms

-2.39 Grams of MDMA

-14.57 Grams of Methamphetamine

-15.22 Grams of Alprazolam (Xanax) Pills

-66.4 Grams of Marijuana

Due to the totality of the circumstances and the fact that the narcotics were spread throughout the vehicle, all occupants were arrested and charged with the following:

Matthew Donte Young

-Trafficking in Fentanyl

-PWIMSD Schedule IV Controlled Substance (Alprazolam)

-PWIMSD Schedule I Controlled Substance (Mushrooms)

-PWIMSD MDMA

Alec Dana Foster

-PWIMSD Fentanyl

-PWIMSD Schedule II Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine)

-PWIMSD Schedule VI Controlled Substance (Marijuana)

-Felony Maintaining a Vehicle for Controlled Substance

-Failure to Heed Lights or Siren

Kevin Andra Hamilton

-PWIMSD Fentanyl

-PWIMSD Schedule II Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine)

Haley Marie Pate

-PWIMSD Fentanyl

-PWIMSD Schedule II Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine)

Bonds are set by a judicial official