By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Brandon Rumple’s first day of court-ordered community service didn’t go well.
The 18-year-old was arrested again after authorities said he tried to dispose of heroin in a portable toilet at a recycling plant on Julian Road about 11 a.m. Monday.
Rowan Deputy J.S. Nelson recognized Rumple after a citizen called about possible drug activity at the recycling plant.
While walking with Rumple to find the center’s supervisor, Nelson watched him slide into a nearby portable toilet.
He was quickly detained.
Rumple, of Carter Street in Enochville, was released in August after serving a three-month stint on drug charges. He was also ordered at some point to perform community service, though it was not immediately clear what charges the sentence stemmed from.
He still faces several felonies in Cabarrus County, including felony trafficking heroin and felony conspiring to sell heroin.
In April, Rowan investigators said Rumple was the head of a “drug empire” in the Enochville area.
Nelson said he also found 0.6 ounces of liquid methadone in Rumple’s pocket Monday.
The other package was fished out of the toilet and determined to be heroin, an arrest report said.
Rumple was charged with felony trafficking heroin and felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver methadone.
He was placed under a $1 million bond and remained in jail Tuesday.
Court records show Rumple was convicted in January of possession of drug paraphernalia and two felony drug offenses.
He was given 30 months probation.
Rumple was later charged in April after authorities said they raided a Concord apartment and found a large amount of heroin in the teenager’s possession.
The following month he failed a urine test, deputies said, and his probation was revoked.
He served three months at Western Youth Institution, a North Carolina prison that houses the youngest inmates in the state.Contact reporter Nathan Hardin at 704-797-4246.