ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — Deputies with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office say they recovered suspected illegal narcotics after a man allegedly attempted to swallow evidence while officers were trying to arrest him at a Salisbury residence.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies went to 630 E. Franklin St. on June 30 to serve an outstanding order for arrest.
Investigators said the residence was already known to deputies because of previous illegal drug activity. While at the location, deputies observed Thomas Polk approach a vehicle parked outside with two women inside. Deputies said they saw Polk reach into the vehicle before placing his hands into his pockets.
A sheriff’s office K-9 conducted an open-air sniff of the vehicle and alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics near the area where Polk had been standing, according to authorities. Deputies also said they were familiar with Polk from previous investigations involving the use and sale of illegal drugs.
Deputies instructed Polk to remove his hands from his pockets. Authorities said Polk raised his hands above his head, but one hand remained tightly clenched around an unknown object.
When deputies ordered him to drop the object, Polk allegedly refused and began walking away. Deputies took him to the ground in an attempt to detain him, but authorities said he continued resisting and ignored repeated commands to release the item.
During the struggle, deputies said Polk placed the object into his mouth. Believing the item was illegal narcotics and concerned about the medical dangers of ingestion, deputies delivered what the sheriff’s office described as approximately three distraction strikes in an effort to prevent him from swallowing the substance.
Authorities said Polk then expelled the object, which deputies identified as suspected crack cocaine.
After taking Polk into custody, deputies said they found additional suspected narcotics during a search, including a small amount of marijuana, suspected powder cocaine and more suspected crack cocaine.
Rowan County EMS responded to evaluate Polk because deputies believed he might have swallowed narcotics. According to the sheriff’s office, Polk refused treatment and declined transportation to a hospital against medical advice.
Authorities said Polk could not be admitted to the Rowan County Detention Center until he was medically cleared. He was transported to Novant Health Rowan Medical Center, where medical staff determined he had not ingested narcotics. The sheriff’s office said Polk remained hospitalized for unrelated medical issues.
Polk has been charged with felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The investigation remains ongoing.
