By Hugh Fisher
hfisher@salisburypost.com
Charles Edward “Eddie” Earnhardt IV, of 523 Maupin Ave., has been charged with manufacturing psilocybin ó commonly known as “magic mushrooms” ó after the discovery last week of a makeshift laboratory in his home.
Earnhardt, 52, was arrested Sunday. He had been hospitalized at Rowan Regional Medical Center after having been discovered in his home last Wednesday, apparently overcome by the fungus.
He is charged with one count of manufacturing a Schedule I controlled substance, a felony.
According to the arrest warrant on file at the Rowan County Magistrate’s Office, “The manufacturing consisted of growing and incubating spores and molds in order to grow the controlled substance.”
Earnhardt, who holds a pharmacy degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was found after his father called police to check on his welfare.
Salisbury Police narcotics investigators searched the home late Wednesday evening and found a lab that had been in operation for some time.
Earnhardt was being held late Sunday on $6,500 bond at the Rowan County Detention Center. His first court appearance is set for Tuesday morning.