A routine warrant service in Salisbury, North Carolina, escalated when Rowan County Sheriff’s deputies discovered not only illegal drugs but what state law defines as a Weapon of Mass Destruction. Last Wednesday, the officers arrived at a residence on Pleasant Place Road to arrest Terry Brett Bunn, only to find themselves uncovering a small cache of contraband that sparked further investigation and subsequent arrests, the Rowan County Sheriff's Office reported.
According to the Rowan County Sheriff's Office, the encounter began when Bunn inadvertently dropped a bag containing a white powdery substance which he suggested looked like Fentanyl. Bunn, and Elizabeth Ann Merwin, who emerged from the house amidst the commotion, were promptly detained along with others present. Detectives from the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) joined the inquiry, and the execution of a search warrant at Bunn's residence unearthed 56 grams of Methamphetamine, 7 grams of Fentanyl, and a stolen, sawed-off shotgun. The alteration of the firearm's barrel allowed it to be classified as a Weapon of Mass Destruction under North Carolina's General Statute 14-288.8.
The charges rained down on Bunn include Possession of Stolen Firearm, Possession of a Weapon of Mass Destruction, Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Possession of Schedule 1 Controlled Substance, and Misdemeanor Child Abuse. He is now being held in the Rowan County Detention Center with a bond set at $460,000.00. Merwin faces charges of Possession of Schedule 1 Controlled Substance, Possession of Methamphetamine,, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, her bond amounting to $50,000.00. Both are awaiting further legal proceedings as they remain in custody.
While the immediate threat has been addressed, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information about crimes or wanted individuals to make contact through their office number or the Crime Stoppers website, emphasizing that callers' identities will stay confidential. They've made it clear the commitment towards community safety is ongoing, and citizen participation, a valued component in their law enforcement efforts.
