Salisbury man charged with cocaine trafficking after investigation

Published 2:21 pm Friday, October 25, 2019

By Shavonne Walker
shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man was charged Friday with cocaine trafficking after Salisbury police determined he was in possession of large and small amounts of the drug throughout two months.

Salisbury Police charged Richard Ira Phifer, 51, of the 300 block of North Shaver Street, with four counts of felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, felony maintaining a vehicle or dwelling place for controlled substances, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor resist, obstruct, delay an officer, two counts of felony trafficking cocaine.

The warrant said on Sept. 20, Phifer had 1.87 grams of crack cocaine. Another warrant issued Friday said Phifer had crack cocaine in his Hyundai Sonata. A warrant said on Aug. 29, Phifer had 2.10 grams of crack cocaine.

On Oct. 21, Phifer is said to have been in possession of 1.20 grams of crack cocaine.

Salisbury police detectives served felony warrants Friday on Phifer, who they said refused to be handcuffed by reaching for his pockets and refusing to put his hands behind his back.

A warrant said Phifer had 224.9 grams of crack cocaine in his possession. He’s being held under a $500,000 secured bond.

Phifer was en route to work when he was arrested.