A deputy who spotted a suspicious car parked near a Scotland Neck area church allegedly found a gun in the possession of a convicted felon along with marijuana Sunday morning.

Chief Deputy Wes Tripp of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office said Deputy Dennis Coley was patrolling the Highway 258 area near Hope Free Will Baptist when he observed a vehicle parked near the entrance of the church.

Coley stopped to see if the driver needed assistance but the vehicle left as the deputy approached.

The deputy then noticed a man in the parking who was standing by the vehicle that left and observed a black Chrysler with a man later identified as Friuqwan Rodman inside.

The area has had several complaints of drug activity in the location in the past and while Coley was conducting an on-scene interview with Rodman he spotted what appeared to be marijuana cigarettes in the cup holder.

The deputy also noticed a pistol in a black holster jammed between the driver’s seat and console when Rodman exited the vehicle.

When the passenger, Demetrius Shields, was removed from the vehicle, what appeared to be marijuana was found on the floorboard and Shields allegedly had rolling papers on him.

With assistance from Scotland Neck police officers John Tippett and Dustin Newsome, Coley arrested and charged Rodman, 24, of Scotland Neck, with felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

Rodman was jailed on $10,000 bond and has a December 19 court date.

Shields was arrested for misdemeanor possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was jailed on $1,000 bond and has the same court date as Rodman.