Man charged after police find stolen gun during traffic stop

Published 12:00 am Thursday, November 23, 2023

SALISBURY — A Linwood man was arrested on Friday after police say they found a stolen gun with an altered serial number in his car during a traffic stop.

Police stopped the man on the exit 79 on-ramp to Interstate 85. Information about why the man was stopped was not available, but he was charged with a signal or movement violation. During the stop, a Salisbury Police Department officer assisted with a K9 search. The K9 reportedly alerted to the possible presence of narcotics on the passenger side of the car.

Deputies then searched the vehicle, reportedly finding a Dewalt tool bag with a glass smoking pipe, what appeared to be burnt marijuana and marijuana gummies all inside.

On the driver’s side of the vehicle, a small blue box was found behind the seat. Inside the box was a Taurus G2c nine millimeter handgun. The last digit of the first half of the serial number appeared to have been scratched off. The gun was found to have been reported stolen.

Another box was found behind the driver’s seat containing multiple bags of cocaine and a digital scale.

The driver, identified as 44-year-old Bennie Deyon Anthony Calvin, was arrested and charged with maintaining a dwelling or vehicle for controlled substances, possessing a stolen firearm, altering the serial number of a firearm, possession of up to 0.5 ounces of marijuana, driving while his license was revoked, signal or movement violation, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of trafficking in cocaine.

Calvin was also charged with two counts of assault on a female, false imprisonment, communicating threats and injury to personal property.

Calvin was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center and given a $225,000 bond.

In Salisbury Police Department reports:

• An assault with hands, feet or fists occurred in the 3100 block of South Main Street at 2 a.m. on Nov. 20.

• Malaysia Mo’nay Smith, 20, was charged with larceny on Nov. 20.

• Morgan Jade Granger, 19, was charged with larceny on Nov. 20.

• Sukara Permethia Wiggs, 19, was charged with larceny on Nov. 20.

• Thomas Lee Ore, 45, was charged with hit and run causing property damage on Nov. 20.

In Rowan County Sheriff’s Office reports:

• A theft of a recreational vehicle occurred at Cedar Glen Circle in Cleveland between 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 8 and 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 18. It was reported on Nov. 19. Police reports indicate that the vehicles were two ATVs that were found missing.

• Fraud by false pretenses occurred at Long Ferry Road in Salisbury between 6 p.m. on Nov. 8 and 5 p.m. on Nov. 19.

• Joshua Casimiro Medina, 19, was charged with felony flee to elude on Nov. 19.

• Charles Tomas Gillam, 27, was charged with possession of a schedule II controlled substance with intent to manufacture, sell or distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting, obstructing or delaying an officer.