By Shavonne Walker
shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man who tried to hide in a car from deputies was arrested on felony cocaine and marijuana possession charges.

David Leon Simpson, 37, of the 100 block of South Shaver Street, was charged with felony maintaining a dwelling or vehicle for dealing in a controlled substance; felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a controlled substance Schedule VI; two counts of felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a controlled substance Schedule II; and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Two Rowan County Sheriff’s Office deputies were driving in the area of East Cemetery Street just before 12:30 p.m. Wednesday when they saw the driver of a silver Volvo cover his face and lean back in the seat. A passenger used a hat to block his face and leaned forward in an effort to conceal his identity.

A deputy drove ahead a few blocks and turned around as the driver of the Volvo began to pull away. The driver continued near Long and Cemetery streets and made a right turn without a signal. A deputy pulled the vehicle over in the parking lot of Speedy Mart on North Long Street.

When a deputy approached the driver, he smelled marijuana coming from the car. The driver, identified as Michael Kluttz, and the passenger, David Simpson, said they had no drugs.

Simpson told the deputy he had smoked marijuana hours earlier.

A deputy searched Kluttz and found no drugs.

A deputy searched Simpson and found a plastic bag that contained several large rocks, some white powder and a green, leafy substance. Officials said they believe the substances are crack cocaine, powder cocaine and marijuana.

A deputy also searched the vehicle and found a plastic bag believed to contain cocaine as well as $437 in cash.

Simpson has since been released from the Rowan County Detention Center under a $5,000 secured bond. Kluttz was not charged and was released.

Simpson has a number of previous convictions, including felony marijuana possession and felony maintaining a place for controlled substances in 2016. He has other convictions for assault on a female, disorderly conduct, damage to property, felony possession of a controlled substance, driving while license revoked, failing to stop for an accident, communicating threats, driving while impaired and possession of drug paraphernalia.