By Shavonne Potts
shavonne.potts@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man faces a felony marijuana charge after the driver of the vehicle he was in ran through a stop sign.

Brandon Clay Ibanez, a 20-year old passenger in the vehicle, was charged with felony possession with intent to sell and deliver a controlled substance schedule VI. He remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $2,500 secured bond. Ibanez was a passenger in the vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle fled on foot and is still being sought by police, said Salisbury Police detective Russ DeSantis.

DeSantis said there were 119 grams of marijuana under the seat Ibanez was sitting in. Officers also found money on him. The money and marijuana were seized.

Warrants have been issued for the driver, William Alexander Menjivar, 22, also of Salisbury. He faces charges of felony possession with intent to sell and deliver a controlled substance schedule VI; felony possession of marijuana; misdemeanor resist, obstruct, delay an officer; driving while license revoked; failure to stop for a stop sign; and carrying a concealed weapon.

Officers observed a gold van run through a stop sign at Gold Hill Drive and Faith Road just after 7 p.m. on Thursday, DeSantis said.

The officer turned on his patrol lights and stopped the vehicle in the 2100 block of South Jake Alexander Boulevard and Ivy Street. The officer noticed a strong odor of marijuana upon approaching the van and requested backup.

When the officer asked for Menjivar’s driver’s license, he reportedly told the officer he didn’t have it but could give the officer his name and birth date.

Ibanez, also did not have a license, and police later determined it was suspended. The officer asked Menjivar and Ibanez to step out of the van.

DeSantis said an officer was about to pat Menjivar down to check him for weapons, but he took off running toward nearby woods on Jake Alexander Boulevard. The passenger, Ibanez, did not run and cooperated with the police.

A pistol was found under the driver’s seat.