By Shavonne Potts
Salisbury Post
FAITH ó A Salisbury teenager charged this week with robbing a bakery has also been charged with robbing another teen moments before the bakery.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office charged Justin Ray Merritt, 17, of 125 Town and Country Drive, with robbery with a deadly weapon and communicating threats and served him with an outstanding order for arrest for a previous charge of failure to appear in court.
Authorities said that before the bakery robbery ó which they say Merritt later confessed to committing ó he pistol-whipped a man on Eastview Road.
According to Sheriff’s Office reports, Merritt was at the home of John Harrity, 19, of 775 Eastview Road, and asked for the telephone number of a mutual friend. Harrity couldn’t find the number.
The reports said Merritt pulled out a handgun and struck Harrity in the face and over the head.
“He asked Harrity if he had any money,” Rowan County Sheriff’s Capt. John Sifford said.
When Harrity said that he didn’t, Merritt ripped Harrity’s pocket and took cigarettes, a lighter and an American Eagle shopping card, the report said.
Sifford said Merritt ran into nearby woods. Sheriff’s deputies searched the area. A short time later, they were called to Yosties Bakery at 202 N. Main St. to investigate a break-in.
A Granite Quarry-Faith police officer found Merritt walking along St. Paul’s Road near Odell Road.
Merritt was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $15,500 bond.
Contact Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253 or spotts@salisburypost.com.