SALISBURY — Three Rowan County residents were charged with multiple felony counts Tuesday in the armed robbery and kidnapping of a Rowan County Sheriff’s Office undercover officer during a drug transaction.

The officer was not injured.

Those arrested are Donald Tiberio Armstong, 36, of 918 Third St., Spencer; Tyrese Jamale Stiller, 18, 35 Knox St., Salisbury; and John Michael Sheehan, 36, 1623 Wiltshire Road.   

The undercover officer had arranged to buy drugs from the suspects in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant in the 800 block of East Innes Street. 

The officer got into the men’s vehicle and was robbed at gunpoint by one of them using a stolen .40 Springfield XD handgun. The men took the officer’s 9- millimeter Glock handgun and $1,561 in cash, according to a Sheriff’s Office report. 

The men started to leave the parking lot with the undercover detective in their vehicle.  Surveillance teams confronted them at gunpoint and arrested them. 

Armstrong was charged with first-degree kidnapping; possession of a firearm by a felon; conspiracy to commit kidnapping; possession of a stolen firearm; conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon; and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Armstrong was placed in the Rowan County jail under a $250,000 secured bond.

Stiller was charged with first-degree kidnapping; conspiracy to commit kidnapping; possession of a stolen firearm; possession with intent to sell cocaine; conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon; and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Stiller was in jail under a $250,000 secured bond.

Sheehan was charged with first-degree kidnapping; conspiracy to commit kidnapping; conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon; and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Sheehan was in jail under a $150,000 secured bond.

Armstrong has previous convictions for trafficking in cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a weapon on school grounds, among others. 

In 2009, Armstrong was convicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base.  He was sentenced to 120 months in prison but was released on July 1, 2016, and was on supervised release.   

Stiller has a previous conviction for misdemeanor breaking and entering.

Sheehan has previous convictions for fleeing to elude arrest, felony possession of marijuana, and driving while impaired, among others.