ROCKINGHAM — A man who led deputies on a foot chase allegedly threw out a bag of weed and had meth in his pocket.
Deputies with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched Saturday to the Flowers Street area of East Rockingham in reference to a man causing a disturbance, according to a press release issued Tuesday.
When they arrived, deputies were reportedly told that the man causing the disturbance was 30-year-old Michael Jon Shepard, of Rockingham.
Shepard was reportedly spied by one of the deputies behind a nearby church building and took off running.
According to the sheriff’s office, Shepard threw a small bag to the ground during the on-foot pursuit before being caught on Mill Road. That bag, found by another deputy, reportedly contained marijuana.
Deputies reportedly found a bag of meth in Shepard’s pants pocket when he was searched.
Shepard is charged with one felony count of possession of methamphetamine and one misdemeanor count each of simple possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting a public officer.
He is being held in the Richmond County Jail under a $10,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 15.
Online court records show Shepard has a pending charge of first-degree burglary, with his next court date slated for Nov. 3.
Shepard does not appear to have any prior convictions in the state, according to records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
