Johnson

ELKINS – A West Virginia man faces a felony charge after Elkins and Belington police allegedly found “over one-quarter pound of suspected fentanyl” during a joint narcotics investigation over the weekend.

William Houdini Johnson Jr., 41, is charged with manufacturing or possession with intent to deliver Schedule I or II narcotic or meth, a felony. He is currently being held in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $25,000 cash-only bond.

The City of Belington announced the joint investigation in a social media post.

“As part of an ongoing narcotics investigation originating in Belington, Patrolman T. L. Cooper of the Belington Police Department coordinated with PFC D. T. Sayre of the Elkins Police Department to execute a search warrant in Elkins on October 11, 2025, at approximately 8:00 p.m.,” the post reads. “One of the individuals at the residence is alleged to have been supplying narcotics to individuals in the Belington area.”

According to the criminal complaint filed by Sayre, on Oct. 11, Cooper gave the officer information he had received from the night before relating to “the sale and distribution of illicit substances within the city limits of Elkins.”

Cooper told Sayre he would attempt to obtain a search warrant for a residence on Shelton Lane for a suspect identified as Johnson, the complaint states. Cooper was able to get the warrant through Randolph County Magistrate Court.

Officers with the Elkins City Police alongside Cooper arrived at the residence and found “numerous individuals” inside, including Johnson, who was found in a seated position next to the kitchen area, the complaint states.

Sayre writes that he noticed Johnson was allegedly holding several clear plastic baggies, as well as a green baggie with a residual amount of a “white powdery substance believed to be fentanyl.” Sayre also allegedly observed a purple Crown Royal bag containing a large amount of currency.

Sayre, Cooper and assisting officers with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office detained the “multitudes of individuals” in the residence and began a search of the space, the complaint states. Sayre allegedly found several baggies of a “white powdery substance consistent with fentanyl” in a trash bag on the kitchen floor. The “multitude of baggies” containing suspected fentanyl were located with multiple other empty baggies matching the ones allegedly found on Johnson.

Multiple pieces of aluminum foil, which contained suspected fentanyl and a digital scale that was covered in white powder suspected to be fentanyl were also allegedly found in the residence, the complaint states. Officers allegedly located several items related to the sale and distribution of illicit substances, “specifically the sale of fentanyl.”

“In total officers recovered seven baggies of the suspected fentanyl and one baggie of a crystal-like substance consistent with methamphetamine,” the criminal complaint states.

Sayre writes that, after the search, he spoke with the other individuals in the residence. More than half of the individuals allegedly told Sayre that Johnson was the one who possessed the bag of suspected fentanyl and was “selling and distributing said substance.” Johnson was then arrested.

“During the execution of the search warrant, officers seized over one-quarter pound of suspected fentanyl, approximately $4,000 in cash and other items of evidentiary value,” the city of Belington post states. “One individual was taken into custody at the scene.”

According to the post, the investigation “remains active.” Belington officials extended appreciation to the Elkins City Police for “their assistance and cooperation.”