By Shavonne Potts

shavonne.potts@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A China Grove man faces a felony drug charge after he was found with crystal methamphetamine inside the waistband of his pants while in the Rowan County jail.

Joshua Michael Winecoff, 27, was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance on penal institution premises. He was arrested on Sunday after he was found lying face down on a stranger’s front porch.

The homeowner called to say a suspicious person was lying on the front porch of his Gaskey Road home. The deputy spoke with Winecoff who said he didn’t remember how he got to the home. He admitted to smoking an 8-ball about three hours before his encounter with law enforcement.

Rowan Sheriff’s Capt. Chad Moose said an 8-ball is typically 3.5 grams of a controlled substance.

The deputy asked if Winecoff had a place to go and he told the deputy his parents lived down the street. Winecoff’s father agreed to take him until he learned that Winecoff was impaired. The father asked if deputies could take Winecoff until he sobered up, said Capt. John Sifford.

Winecoff told the deputy he had crystal meth on him tucked inside the waistband of a hernia belt. The deputy searched Winecoff and found one gram of crystal meth on him.

Winecoff remains in the Rowan County jail under a $2,500 secured bond.

In other Rowan County Sheriff’s Office reports

• A man reported on Friday someone stole a tablet from the 100 block of Doby Drive, Gold Hill.

• A man reported on Sunday someone stole his handgun from the 200 block of Tumbleweed Drive.

• A woman reported on Sunday she was the victim of an assault while in the 17000 block of Oak Breeze Circle, Mooresville.

• A woman reported on Sunday she was the victim of an assault while in the 200 block of Dawson Downs Lane, Mooresville.

• Brian Keith McIntyre, 41, was charged on Friday with felony possession of a firearm by a felon in the 100 block of N.C. 801, Woodleaf.

• Demaurea Leon Grant, 25, was charged on Saturday with misdemeanor assault on a government official while at the Rowan County jail.

• Justin Gray Morgan, 33, was charged on Saturday with misdemeanor assault on a female while in the 1000 block of Misty Tunnel Lane, Mooresville.