Police: Illegally parked car leads to drug arrests

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, November 28, 2012

SALISBURY – Two men were taken into custody after officers checked an illegally parked vehicle Thursday.
Salisbury Police Officer Wanda Gibson arrested James Emery Hobson, 28, of Wilson Road, and Dwayne Melvin Coward, 29, of North Ellis Street.
According to a police report, Gibson quickly noticed what appeared to be cigar tobacco that had been hollowed out on the ground near the stopped 1996 Honda. Hollowed cigars are typically filled with marijuana and smoked, police said.
Gibson, a Police Interdiction Team member, called for additional officers and asked the men if there was anything illegal in the car.
Hobson told authorities he was carrying a handgun and had a small amount of marijuana in his possession.
Hobson was taken into custody and later charged with felony carrying a concealed pistol and misdemeanor possession of marijuana. He also had an outstanding warrant for driving while license revoked.
A police dog alerted on the center console of the Honda and hydrocodone pills were found inside, according to the report.
Dwayne Coward, the driver, was charged with misdemeanor possession of narcotics.
Hobson was placed under a $6,000 bond. He was in jail Friday.
Coward was released after posting a $3,000 bond.