Burglary investigation turns into drug bust

Published 12:00 am Friday, November 18, 2011

By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
Deputies arrested a Rockwell man on Thursday after they said burglars broke into a building where the business owner was keeping drugs.
According to a Rowan County Sheriffís Office report, investigators were called in reference to a burglary alarm at Roll Your Own and Sweepstakes in the 2000 block of East Ridge Road in September.
Officers found a broken window at the scene and after securing the area, called the business owner.
The report said 26-year-old Joshua Tingler came to the business and told officers that he was the owner.
After looking around, Tingler told deputies, according to the report, that ěa bag of plant food and dietary supplements was missing.î
When deputies asked what type of plant food, Tingler picked up ěa white plastic container with two small bottles containing white powder substance, 11 tubes of a green leafy substance and another small bottle of green leafy substance,î the report said.
Deputies informed Tingler that those substances were illegal, but Tingler said he had lab results from the manufacturers stating that nothing was illegal in the substance.
Investigators took the materials into evidence and after two months of processing determined the substances were illegal.
Tingler, 2020 Green Field Lane, was charged with two counts of felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver synthetic marijuana, felony maintaining a dwelling for storing drugs, and felony possession of MDPV, a stimulant often used as a psychoactive drug. Tingler was also charged with two counts of felony possession with intent to manufacture MDPV and two counts of simple possession of synthetic marijuana.
He was released after posting a $10,000 bond on Friday.