By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

A Spencer man with a history of weapons and drug offenses was charged Friday with being a felon in possession of a handgun and marijuana.

Salisbury Police charged Burlee Tobias Kersey III, 32, of the 700 block of South Rowan Avenue, with misdemeanor carrying a concealed weapon, felony possession of a firearm by a felon, misdemeanor simple possession of marijuana, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and felony possession of schedule II controlled substances.

He was also charged with misdemeanor failure to appear for a probation violation, failure to appear for misdemeanor marijuana possession and misdemeanor simple possession of marijuana.

He was issued a total $22,000 secured bond and has since been released from the Rowan County Detention Center.

According to a warrant, Kersey, also known as Tink, King Justice and Sin Allah, had a 9 mm Beretta. He was leaving a convenience store and an officer happened to see the gun when Kersey lifted his shirt slightly. He also had plastic bags, digital scales and a plastic container on him.

The officer spoke with him and discovered he had a felony criminal record. He served over eight years in prison after a 2002 conviction for robbery with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm as a felon and possession of stolen goods.

He was most recently convicted of misdemeanor hit and run in 2013, for which he received probation. He has also been convicted of receiving a stolen vehicle, larceny, reckless driving, common law robbery, and possession of stolen goods.

Kersey also has a pending 2014 and 2013 cases involving marijuana possession and hit and run property damage, respectively.