Pair busted after texting former Rowan County narcotics officer about drug buy

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — Deputies said two men were arrested Tuesday after they texted a former Rowan County narcotics officers about a drug buy.

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Officials said the officer had four missed calls from an unknown number around 1:30 a.m., so he texted the number, asking who the caller was, and the person replied, “Josiah, I sent my bro to hook u up. What happened?”

After the officer realized the conversation was about drugs, he continued conversing with the caller, who identified himself as Josiah.

Josiah, later identified as Josiah Hurst, and Brandon Ferguson arranged a meetup at the Food Lion on U.S. Highway 29 in China Grove to sell the officer 3.5 grams of drugs for $200.

(Ferguson, Hurst)

Deputies said the officer set up surveillance of the grocery store's parking lot with the help of the Salisbury Police Department's Narcotic Unit.

When the pair got to the meetup spot, deputies said they walked up to a vehicle being driven by a narcotics detective and were immediately arrested.

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Deputies said they found 4.1 grams of what they believe to be crystal meth on Ferguson, who is charged with conspiring to sell and deliver a Schedule II drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Hurst is charged with conspiring to sell and deliver a Schedule II drug.

Both men received $20,000 secured bonds.

Cox Media Group