SALISBURY — A man was arrested on Monday after emergency personnel found him unresponsive in a car on the side of the road with multiple firearms on the seat beside him.

Deputies initially responded to the intersection of Rockwell and Old Beatty Ford roads in regards to firefighters and EMS personnel that had been unable to wake a man inside his vehicle, according to a spokesperson for the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office. Law enforcement had been called because there were two firearms sitting on top of the passenger seat and the man had a knife on his lap.

When deputies arrived, they noticed the two long guns sitting in the open as well as the knife and drug paraphernalia in the man’s lap, the spokesperson said. The man was partially slouched over. The deputies tapped on the window and woke the man up, at which point he allegedly became startled and attempted to drive away. One of the deputies was able to open the driver’s side door and ordered the man to stop the car.

The man attempted to follow orders but continuously failed to put the car in park, instead pressing the turn signal multiple times, the spokesperson said. The man was arrested and evaluated by EMS, who determined that he did not need immediate emergency treatment. While being evaluated, the man allegedly told EMS and deputies that he had taken fentanyl.

The deputies searched the vehicle, reportedly finding a bag with a white crystal substance in the center console. The deputies also verified that the firearms had not been reported stolen.

The man, identified as Matthew Bumgarner, was arrested and charged with felony possession of a schedule II controlled substance. He was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center and given a $2,500 bond.