A Salisbury man was charged Sunday after law enforcement found him in a car that didn’t belong to him.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office charged Timothy Torrence, 42, of Grubb Ferry Road, with two counts felony financial transaction card theft, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and driving while impaired, both misdemeanors.
Anita Richie of Dogwood Court, Salisbury, told authorities Torrence took her 2008 Chevy Cobalt and she believed he was driving to East Spencer. Richie told deputies she’d fallen asleep and when she awoke, her car and credit cards were missing.
A deputy parked at the East Spencer Post Office and waited for the Cobalt. Torrence drove by the officer around 3 a.m. and was stopped near South Long and Mitchell streets.
When the officer asked for a driver’s license, Torrence gave the officer an expired license. The officer also smelled an odor of alcohol on Torrence. Torrence was given a Breathalyzer test and had a .10 blood alcohol content, above the 0.08 legal limit.
Upon searching Torrence, Richie’s credit cards were found in his pants pockets.
According to the Department of Correction, Torrence has previously been convicted of larceny, drug possession and driving while license revoked. Torrence remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $500 secured bond.