Authorities charged a Salisbury man with resisting arrest after he swallowed something officers believed to be drugs. The incident occurred Tuesday around noon.
Stephen Eric Blanton, 30, of the streets of Salisbury, was charged with misdemeanor resist, obstruct, delay an officer. He was also served warrants for two charges from 2012 for misdemeanor unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and assault on a female.
Salisbury Police received a call from someone who said a man was in the 1300 block of North Main Street trying to sell drugs door-to-door.
Officers spotted Blanton near North Church and West 12th streets. A police officer approached Blanton, who gave his name as Zac Campbell, and told officers he did not have drugs when asked.
The officer asked Blanton to turn his pockets inside out, which he did. He began fiddling with the upper part of his cargo pants. He then turned away from the officer, reached down and quickly put something in his mouth.
When the officer asked Blanton to open his mouth, he refused. When Blanton opened his mouth there was nothing there. He told the officer he’d swallowed a piece of chewing gum.
Capt. Shelia Lingle said they believed Blanton did put some type of drugs in his mouth, but the officer was unable to confirm it when Blanton swallowed the substance.
Blanton has been convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon, drug possession, forgery and assault on a female.