Rowan Sheriff, Concord Police team up for major "black tar" heroin bust | Crime

SALISBURY -  Over a period of the last several months, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit has been investigating an increase in the sale and use of heroin in the Enochville area of  southern Rowan County.

During the course of this investigation, suspects were arrested by members of the Sheriff’s ACE Team in this area for possession of small amounts of heroin.  

As the investigation continued, both 17 year old Brandon Rumple and 42 year old Billy Barnhardt appeared to be two of the main sources in the area selling heroin. Both had recent involvements or arrests for heroin sales, according to the sheriff.

On Tuesday detectives obtained and served a search warrant for Billy Barnhardt’s residence at 505 Spring Garden Avenue, Kannapolis.

Detectives also had arrest warrants for Barnhardt for PWITSD Heroin from this investigation. Sheriff’s Special Response Team served the warrant and Barnhardt was taken into custody, and numerous items of drug paraphernalia related to the use and sale of heroin was seized.

Barnhardt received a $5,000 bond. Detectives discovered that Brandon Rumple had left the Rowan County area and was operating his heroin operation from the Concord area of Cabarrus County.

Rumple was still supplying a large portion of southern Rowan County with heroin, according to a press release.  Investigators made contact with Concord Police and a joint investigation was launched to find the new location for Rumple. It was discovered to be in apartments behind Concord Mills.

On Thursday the Concord Police Vice obtained a search warrant for Rumple’s apartment, and Rowan Sheriff Office and Concord Police served the warrant.

During the search investigators located and seized 211 grams of “black tar” heroin (7.5 Ounces), $5,000 in cash, and a loaded handgun.

As a result of this search, Joshua Andrew Branham, 21, of 709 Chris Drive, China Grove, and 17 year old Brandon Lee Rumple, 17, of 504 Carter Street, Kannapolis, were charged with trafficking in heroin, both received a $300,000 secured bond and placed in the Cabarrus County Jail.