SALISBURY — A Statesville man on federal probation was arrested Thursday evening and given new felony drug charges.
Another man from Salisbury was charged for conspiracy to sell a controlled substance.
Around 5:40 p.m. Thursday, police received a tip that a drug deal would be taking place at a local barbecue restaurant. Officers saw a truck matching the informant’s description in the parking lot, and they followed it to a Subway restaurant near Salisbury Mall.
There, they said they saw a hand-to-hand transaction between the driver of the vehicle, later identified as Donnie Lee Leach, 43, of Majolica Road in Salisbury, and another man, Eric Lemont Norman, 37, of Idaho Road in Statesville.
Officers said when they moved in to arrest both men, they saw Norman toss a plastic bag under an SUV parked nearby. They retrieved the bag and found that it contained 15.4 grams (.54 ounces) of cocaine.
Norman was charged with possession with intent to manufacture, sell or distribute cocaine; possession of cocaine; and maintaining a dwelling or vehicle for a controlled substance. He was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $30,000 bond.
After Norman’s information was entered into the computer system, Salisbury Police got a call from a federal probation officer. They were notified that Norman is under federal probation after being released from prison, where he served time for drug possession and assault charges.
Leach was charged with felony attempt and conspiracy to sell drugs. He was given a $10,000 bond.