By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

A Charlotte man was charged with possessing half a kilo of high-grade marijuana after an officer came upon his vehicle in an accident.

The driver, Jahid Ny-Shaun Thompson, 32, of the 100 block of Beatties Ford Road, was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and felony maintaining a vehicle.

A Salisbury Police officer driving home around 11 p.m. Monday saw the vehicle spin out of control on Interstate 85 in China Grove. The vehicle, a 1989 BMW 328I, came to rest sideways off the road, but had no visible damage.

The N.C. Highway Patrol responded, assisted by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the inside of the vehicle.

The officers initiated a search of the vehicle and found three large Mason jars with marijuana residue and 492 grams — or half a kilo — of high-grade marijuana in two vacuum sealed bags, all in the trunk of the car.

Thompson was issued a $50,000 secured bond and remains in the Rowan County Detention Center.

Thompson, who claimed to be a University of North Carolina at Charlotte student, has an extensive criminal history with a pending January possession with intent to sell/deliver a schedule IV charge in Lee County.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.