SALISBURY — A Salisbury man was charged with trafficking heroin and other offenses following the sale of drugs to an undercover officer. The man has also been a probation absconder for two years, officials said.
Detectives with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, Salisbury Police and the N.C. Highway Patrol’s Air Wing conducted an undercover buy from Ronald Lee Bowman.
Bowman, 37, of the 100 block of Earnhardt Avenue, was charged with one count felony assault of a deadly weapon on an law enforcement officer, two counts felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance, three counts felony trafficking heroin or opium, one count misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor probation violation, felony probation violation, felony fleeing to elude arrest and misdemeanor hit and run property damage.
Officials said they knew Bowman had a history of running and “obstructing law enforcement,” a statement said.
Bowman met with undercover detectives and sold them a trafficking amount of heroin. Once the transaction was completed, officers moved in and attempted to stop Bowman.
Officials said he left in a Chrysler passenger car. When officers tried to block Bowman in on Church Street, he hit a sheriff’s office patrol vehicle while trying to leave the scene.
He was apprehended in minutes at the intersection of West Thomas and South Jackson streets.
Warrants said he had seven oxycontin tablets and damaged the side door of the vehicle. He also had a gram of heroin on him.
Bowman was on probation for drug possession and having or receiving a firearm. The last time he made contact with the probation office was December 2013.
Bowman was issued a $215,000 secured bond and remains in the Rowan County jail.