RFP Staff
♦ Wednesday the Sheriff’s Office’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and the Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Unit (ACE) executed the four search warrants at locations connected to the manufacturing and distribution of marijuana. In the crosshairs was a suspected Rowan County marijuana-growing operation. Arrested in connection with the warrants were Cody Lane Morris, 24, of the 1600 block of Majolica Road, and Fernando Alonso Alvarez, 24, of the 300 block of South Rowan Avenue, Spencer. Spencer Police joined the search at one location.
The Sheriff’s Office obtained information in June that Morris was alleged to be involved in marijuana-growing activities at his residence on 1685 Majolica Road. Other properties were involved including an adjoining property and 303 South Rowan Ave in Spencer. Yet another property at 118 Polo Drive was involved in Salisbury.
The Sheriff’s Office further suspected a residence at 503 Yost Road was being used as a location to process and package marijuana for distribution. The 503 Yost Rd. raid led to a seizure of only a small amount of pot and drug paraphernalia there. No arrests were made.
Back in June, Morris was pulled over in his 2006 Chevrolet pickup, a sheriff’s deputy smelled marijuana in the vehicle. Morris admitted that a half-pound of marijuana was inside the truck. The pot was seized and Morris was charged. Later on June 18th investigators searched the 118 Polo Drive address. The property showed evidence that a marijuana manufacturing operation had once been there, but was gone.
Yesterday Sheriff’s deputies visited 303 S. Rowan Ave in Spencer with a search warrant. They discovered evidence that marijuana manufacturing once took place there, but had moved on. At another Spencer residence, where Alverez lived, investigators seized approximately 2 1/2 pounds of marijuana and $3,910 in cash. Mr. Alverez got charged with possession with intent to sell, deliver and manufacture a controlled substance, manufacturing marijuana, felony maintaining a dwelling and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was placed under a $25,000 bond.
Sheriff’s deputies executed two search warrants at 1685 Majolica Road and an adjoining parcel. They discovered evidence there that a marijuana manufacturing operation had been present in an attic and that in an adjoining property that currently marijuana manufacturing operation took place in a building. The marijuana operation had electricity supplied to it by an extension cord running to a detached garage at 1685 Majolica Road. The cord traveled to a hidden room in the building on the adjoining parcel of property. Here deputies located some 94 pot plants and some dried marijuana.
Mr. Morris was charged with possession with intent to sell, deliver and manufacture marijuana, manufacturing marijuana, felony maintaining a dwelling and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was placed under a $50, secured bond.
Mr. Morris retains pending charges from an arrest at that time by the Salisbury Police for first-degree burglary and was released under a $750,000 bond. This August he was arrested for reckless driving to endanger in Cabarrus County.
