SALISBURY — A Salisbury man with a number of felony convictions was charged after he tried to hide a gun from police who stopped him Monday night.

Salisbury Police charged Malcolm Raheem Toomer, 23, who is a convicted felon and not to be in possession of a weapon, after finding him with a Keltec pistol while in the 1100 block Old Plank Road.

He was charged with felony possession of a firearm by a felon and misdemeanor carrying a concealed weapon.

An officer stopped Toomer and another man around 9:30 p.m. because one of them had an opened beer. The officer explained it was illegal to have an opened alcoholic beverage. As the officer was explaining the law, he noticed Toomer walk behind the patrol car and put something near the car.

The officer got out and searched the area and found the pistol lying in the grass not far from the patrol vehicle.

Toomer has been convicted of robbery, felony possession of marijuana and possession of stolen goods. He remains in the Rowan County jail under a $20,000 secured bond.

— Shavonne Walker