CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — The man who fled from Charlotte County deputies while driving the wrong way on a street and throwing narcotics out of his window is now facing drug trafficking charges.
34-year-old Kenel Barthelus was under investigation by CCSO's Narcotics Unit for two months. It was found that Barthelus was transporting an excessive amount of substances, which tested positive for methamphetamine and fentanyl. He was also selling narcotics within the community.
On Friday, August 18, Barthelus was scene driving through Charlotte County. Deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but Barthelus fled the scene, hitting two CCSO vehicles in the process.
He then drove across Kings Highway, driving the wrong way into oncoming traffic. As he fled, Barthelus began to throw nags of narcotics out of his window.
He eventually exited his vehicle and began to flee on foot. He was tracked down and placed under arrest in a residential area.
Investigation later found that Barthelus had more than five pounds of narcotics in his possession, and enough fentanyl to kill more than 70,000 people.
He is charged with trafficking meth and fentanyl, manufacturing/transporting drug paraphernalia, aggravating fleeing to elude and tampering with evidence.
