By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man who was shot during a home invasion a year ago and survived is facing federal drug charges. Police stopped his vehicle and he took them on a short car chase.

Salisbury Police charged Kenneth Dwayne Neely, 51, of the 1300 block of West Horah Street, with felony fleeing to elude arrest. Neely, known by the nickname Yogi, has outstanding federal warrants for possession of a firearm by a felon and felony possession with intent to distribute schedule II controlled substance.

A police officer getting gasoline spotted Neely, who was also getting gas, around midnight at Speedway on South Main Street. The officer recognized Neely and knew there were federal warrants for his arrest. A second officer arrived and also identified Neely. An officer attempted to stop Neely, but he continued to drive, said Police Capt. Shelia Lingle.

Neely turned onto South Main Street, Airport Road and circled back to the Speedway parking lot where he eventually stopped. After the officer told Neely why he’d been stopped and the officer worked to verify warrants existed for his arrest, Neely drove off.

The officer was able to catch up to Neely at Henderson Grove Church Road, where he stopped.

A year ago, Neely was shot in the stomach during a home invasion at his  Lincolnton Road duplex. He told police he was asleep inside his apartment when three masked men kicked in the door. The men demanded money and one of the intruders told Neely they would shoot him after they got what they came for, he said in a 2015 interview with a Post reporter.

He struggled with one of the gunmen and was shot by the other. He was treated and released from the hospital within the same day.

Three months later, Neely was being charged with cocaine possession following a traffic stop. During that incident police found crack cocaine rocks hidden near Neely’s genitals.

He remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $5,000 secured bond. He is also under a federal hold so that someone with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives can serve the federal warrant.

Neely has a number of convictions including felony breaking and entering, resisting arrest, misdemeanor larceny, drug possession, assault on an officer and attempted financial card fraud.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.