A Salisbury man who was being investigated by the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security has been arrested and is now under $100,000 bond.

In a joint investigation with Homeland Security and the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, Joshua Alexander Hovis, 28, of 425 E. Liberty St., was taken into custody at a traffic stop on North Long Street in East Spencer.

Hovis was driving a 1993 Buick Park Avenue. Following the traffic stop, investigators found a .357 revolver under the driver’s seat and a sawed-off .22-caliber rifle in the trunk.

According to the Sheriff’s Office report, Hovis has an extensive criminal history with a number of felony convictions in Rowan Superior Court. He has been convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon, two counts of attempting to traffick in opium/heroin and possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver cocaine. He also has numerous misdemeanor arrests.

Hovis’ charges from the traffic stop include possession of marijuana, felony maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place, possession of a weapon of mass destruction, two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, sell/deliver cocaine and possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver cocaine.