Troopers are seeking the whereabouts of a Fairbanks man after witnessing a drug transaction on Maryleigh Avenue in Fairbanks on Sunday afternoon.

Troopers with the Bureau of Highway Patrol saw a drug deal going down at Maryleigh Avenue at approximately 2:48 pm on Sunday. Troopers contacted 24-year-old Gabriel Cotton of Fairbanks, but Cotton would flee the scene on foot following the trooper contact.

Troopers investigating the incident report that Cotton has two outstanding warrants for his arrest in connection with earlier cases of Theft.

Trooper report that further investigation, with the assistance of K9 “Chevron,” resulted in the arrest of a second suspect, 28-year-old Matthew Stearns of Fairbanks. He was arrested for “Hindering Prosecution 1st Degree, MICS 4th Degree (possession of methamphetamine), VCOR (Violating Conditions of Release), DWLR (Driving While License Revoked), MICS 5th Degree (possession and distribution of marijuana), and MICS 6th Degree (possession of marijuana).” Stearns was on Conditions of release for the original charge of DUI from a January case.

Stearns was transported and remanded to the Fairbanks Correctional Center without bail.

Troopers continue to seek the whereabouts of Gabriel Cotton, and are asking for information on his whereabouts. They ask that the information be called in to the Fairbanks Trooper Post at 451-5100.

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