By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man was charged with cocaine possession following a traffic stop where police discovered the drug inside a Crown Royal bag. The green bag used to hold the alcoholic beverage was found underneath the passenger’s seat.

Salisbury Police charged Altereck Rashad Shields, 36, of the 1005 block of South Church Street, with felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor resist, obstruct, delay an officer.

He also had outstanding warrants from the Thomasville Police Department for three counts of felony trafficking in cocaine, one count of felony trafficking heroin, felony possession of a schedule II controlled substance with intent to manufacture, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts felony possession of stolen goods and two counts felony possession of a firearm by a felon.

Shields had an outstanding felony warrant for probation violation out of Davidson County. He remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $200,000 secured bond.

The traffic stop occurred Monday around 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of North Church and West 11th streets. Police said that once the vehicle stopped, the front-seat passenger, later identified as Altereck Shields, ran from the vehicle but was quickly apprehended. Two others in the vehicle did not run and were not charged.

Police searched the car and found the Crown Royal bag under Shields’ seat. Inside the bag, police said, were 10 grams of crack cocaine, a digital scale with cocaine residue on it, and $40 in cash.

Shields is currently on three probation for a 2015 conviction in Davidson County for attempted possession of a firearm by a felon. He’s also been convicted of drug trafficking in Mecklenburg County, as well as assault with a deadly weapon, driving while license revoked and other misdemeanors.