Tesla driver caught sleeping on Autopilot arrested for trafficking e-cigarettes laced with methamphetamine in North Carolina, police say

WILSON’S MILLS, North Carolina — A man driving a Tesla has been arrested and charged after police discovered thousands of dollars worth of drugs during a traffic stop.

It happened Friday afternoon at Wilson’s Mills.

The driver of this Tesla was sleeping with the autopilot function activated.

“He was probably sleeping and we arrested him, that’s not normal,” said Daniel Wright, one of the lead investigators on the case.

He said it wasn’t as simple as arresting Michael Goodman, 25, of Lenoir County.

“When we came up behind him with our lights and sirens on, it didn’t bother him, he didn’t wake up,” Wright said.

He said one of his colleagues drove a Tesla so he knew what to do.

“He knew that if he got in front of them, it would activate a sensor on the autopilot and it would wake him up,” Wright said.

Investigators discovered vape pens, some containing methamphetamine and others containing MDMA.

Goodman eventually woke up, confused, and was eventually taken to jail.

Court documents show the charges he faces: four felonies, including trafficking methamphetamine and MDMA.

Another page lists charges such as reckless driving.

“He drove about a mile before we could get him to stop,” Chief AZ Williams said. “There are drunk drivers, it’s pretty common. I’ve never seen that before.”

He said he was grateful to his officers for catching the Tesla before it drove further into Raleigh during rush hour.

“Don’t come to Wilson’s Mills on 70 with a lot of drugs,” Wright said. “We’ll find you.”