A Salisbury man who called police about the theft of his scooter wound up in handcuffs after becoming belligerent with officers.
Joshua Lee Blackwelder, 24, of the 3000 block of U.S. 601, was charged with resist, delay, obstruct an officer; simple possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, utterance to provoke violent retaliation, all misdemeanors.
Salisbury Police spoke with Blackwelder, who told them he was at a friend’s apartment at Zion Hills Apartment complex where he parked his scooter. The scooter was gone when he went back outside two hours later. Blackwelder returned to Burger King, where he worked, to call police. While a police officer was talking to Blackwelder he began to curse at the officer. The officer finished his interview and began walking toward his patrol car. Blackwelder continued to curse at the officer. Blackwelder went back inside the restaurant and the officer called him outside. He refused to step toward the officer’s patrol car, a report said. The officer withdrew his Taser, but Blackwelder complied before the Taser was deployed.
Blackwelder was searched and 5 grams (.17 ounces) of marijuana was found on him, along with a smoking pipe. He remains in the county jail under a $1,500 secured bond.