Multiple calls from concerned residents led law enforcement to charge three people at a Lincolnton Road apartment with various drug offenses. The Salisbury Police Department began patrolling the area, not far from Salisbury High, regularly regarding the possible drug activity there.
On Thursday around 9 p.m. officers were patrolling on foot when they approached people standing in the front yard of an apartment building.
The officer noted in a department report that as they approached, two men tossed items off to the side. The items were later discovered to be one bag of crack cocaine weighing 14.3 grams and a smaller bag of crack cocaine weighing 1.9 grams.
Police charged three Salisbury men with the following:
• Marvin Joseph Eberhart, 52, of the 700 block of Lincolnton Road, with possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a controlled schedule II substance and sell and deliver within 300 feet of a school property, both of which are felonies. He remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond.
• Rufus Linwood Birst, 61, of the 900 block of Locke Street, with resist, delay, obstruct an officer and possession of drug paraphernalia, both of which are misdemeanors. Birst remains in the Rowan County jail under a $1,000 secured bond.
• Darren Antonio McCullough, 24, of the 400 block of East Council Street, with possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a controlled schedule II substance and sell and deliver within 300 feet of a school property, both of which are felonies. He also remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond.
Authorities say as officers were talking to Eberhart and McCullough and a woman, who was not charged, Birst came from the back of the property. He refused to remove his hands from his pockets when officers asked him to do so. Officers repeatedly asked Birst to remove his hands. The officer said if Birst did not comply, he would be shocked with a Taser. Birst was shocked with the Taser when he began walking away from the officer. Police say he had a crack pipe inside his pocket.
In 1991, Birst was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. In 1995 Birst was convicted of assault on female, and in 1997 felony breaking and entering and misdemeanor habitual assault. In 2002, he was convicted of resisting arrest and simple assault. In 2008, he was convicted of larceny and two years later, larceny of motor vehicle. He was convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon in 2011.
McCullough has been convicted of larceny, possession of stolen goods, resisting arrest, communicating threats, simple assault, and attempted breaking and entering, all of which were misdemeanors.
Eberhart was convicted of robbery with a dangerous weapon, breaking and entering, operating a vehicle without a license and possession of stolen goods.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.