The Salisbury Police charged a 16-year-old with carrying a concealed handgun and simple possession of marijuana after officers say he tossed the gun in a nearby ditch. Deante Baker, of the 1300 block of Standish Street, was charged Sunday with carrying a concealed weapon, possession/carrying a firearm by a felon and simple possession of marijuana, all misdemeanors.
Police were already in the area following an attempted robbery near South Church and Thomas streets. Three men were walking when an officer saw one of them toss something in a nearby bush. The officer approached the men and found a .22-caliber revolver. He also had 4 grams of marijuana in a plastic bag and a pocket knife. In North Carolina, a person must be at least 21 to own a handgun.
Officers believed the teen was younger and returned him into the custody of his mother. His mother later brought police a copy of her son’s birth certificate showing his date of birth. He was charged and booked into the Rowan County Detention Center where he remains under an $800 secured bond.