By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
GOLD HILL ó A Salisbury man temporarily fooled authorities, giving fake names after he was arrested for drug possession Wednesday morning.
When investigators learned his real name, however, they added a charge of identity theft.
According to the Rowan County Sheriffís Office, deputies responded to call about a suspicious person at the intersection of Gin Road and Spring Lake Lane.
Deputies said they found 26-year-old Matthew Dean sitting underneath a street sign at the intersection and that he ěappeared to be impaired.î
The report said Dean, of 524 Mahaley Ave., was asked to take anything out of his pockets and he removed two uncapped syringes and two vials of white liquid. Dean also had a small package of what appeared to be a synthetic drug known as ěbath salts.î
Deputies reported that the man had no identification and that he continued to provide false information to authorities.
After being taken to the Magistrateís Office, Dean was mistaken for a man named ěDaniel.î
A brief search led authorities to believe the manís name was Daniel Wiser after a DMV photo ělooked similar to the suspect.î
The report said deputies asked the man if it was his name and he agreed that it was. Later Wednesday morning, a man named Daniel Wiser came to the Sheriffís Office after a family member notified him that they had seen his information on the county jailís website.
After a further investigation, authorities confirmed the man was Matthew Dean.
Dean was charged with resisting, obstructing and delaying an officer, possession of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also charged with felony identity theft.
Dean had outstanding warrants for felony breaking and entering, felony larceny and three counts of felony larceny of a firearm.
He was given a $5,000 bond and was released after posting bond.