Local authorities charged a group of people Thursday with a number of drug possession offenses following an undercover operation at a Bendix Drive hotel.
The N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement, a division under the state Department of Public Safety, along with the Salisbury Police Department, conducted an investigation in June at the Economy Inn that yielded the following:
• Selina Tanyle, 31, of the 200 block of Balfour Quarry Road, Granite Quarry, was charged with one count felony possession of a controlled substance schedule II (cocaine). Officials served a search warrant at her apartment and found 3 grams of crack cocaine. She has since been released from the Rowan County Detention Center under a $5,000 secured bond.
• Rickey Lee Hoskins Jr., 35, 600 block of East Cemetery Street, Salisbury, was charged with three counts misdemeanor maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances, three counts felony sell or deliver a controlled substance schedule VI (marijuana) and three counts of felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture a schedule VI (marijuana). He was charged on outstanding warrants for the ongoing investigation. He was issued a $15,000 secured bond and has since been released from the county jail.
• Tricia McCora Weast, 43, of the 300 block of Bendix Drive, Economy Inn, was charged with one count felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a controlled substance schedule II (cocaine), one count felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a controlled substance schedule VI (marijuana), sell or deliver a controlled substance schedule VI and felony sell or deliver a controlled substance schedule II (cocaine). According to a police report she was arrested after selling the drugs to an undercover officer. Authorities searched the hotel room where she lived. She remains in the county jail under a $10,000 secured bond. Records show she also had a probation violation from 2012 for shoplifting/concealment of goods.
• J.P. Hill, 54, of the 100 block of West Torbush Street, East Spencer, was charged with two counts misdemeanor maintaining a dwelling/vehicle for controlled substances, three counts of sell/deliver controlled substance schedule II, and two counts felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture schedule II. A report said Hill sold crack cocaine to an undercover ALE agent. He was issued a $15,000 secured bond and has since been released from the Rowan County jail.
• John Thomas Hipps, 51, address unknown, was charged with two counts trafficking in cocaine, five counts felony maintaining a dwelling for controlled substance, eight counts felony sell and deliver a controlled substance schedule II, five counts felony sell and deliver substance schedule VI, and felony sell and deliver a controlled substance schedule I. No other details of his arrest were available. He was in the Rowan jail under $500,000 secured bond.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.