By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

An inmate in the Rowan County jail was caught with a shank that he made from a comb and string. It’s not the first time he’s been caught with a homemade weapon in the jail, authorities said.

Charles Mangum Broughton, 43, of Leonard Road, was charged with felony possession of a weapon in a prison or detention facility.

A deputy on rounds on Sunday said at 11:15 p.m. he looked into Broughton’s cell and saw what appeared to be an object made into a shank. The deputy confronted Broughton who pulled down his pants to show he had nothing, a report said.

The deputy waited on assistance to check the cell and Broughton. An officer shook Broughton’s pants leg and a black object fell out. The object was a comb with string and plastic around it with one end filed down to a point.

Capt. John Sifford said it’s not clear where Broughton got the string and plastic and how he was able to file the comb down. He was issued a $25,000 secured bond.

The first time Broughton made a weapon was Jan. 12 when he filed down a toothbrush. He was charged with possession of a dangerous weapon in a detention facility or jail. He was issued a $20,000 secured bond in that incident.

He was originally arrested Dec. 26 and charged with the Dec. 10 robbery of Village Grocery. He’s accused of walking into the store with his face covered and carrying a shotgun. Investigators say he left the store in a dark pickup with $1,300 in cash.

On Dec. 27 Rowan officials charged Broughton with damaging a sprinkler head in a jail pod. He was charged with misdemeanor damage to property and given a $2,500 secured bond. A few days later on Dec. 30 he was was charged with damaging another sprinkler head. Broughton was again charged with damage to property and given a written promise to appear in court.

On Jan. 6 Rowan officials charged him with damaging a light fixture. He was charged with damage to property and given a $2,500 secured bond.

Broughton remains in the Rowan County Detention Center. He has been convicted of assault on an officer, misdemeanor breaking and entering, driving while impaired, simple assault, speeding from police, driving without a license, and reckless driving.