Rowan County Man Charged With Making Meth Inside Home

ROCKWELL, N.C. — Officials say they arrested a Rockwell man on manufacturing and trafficking methamphetamine charges.

Rodney Hardin, 39, has reportedly been under investigation by federal and local officials for several years.

Investigators say Hardin reported a robbery at his residence in June 2017 and through the course of the investigation they determined that they robbery was actually a drug related home invasion targeting Hardin.

Officials say they determined Hardin was the victim of several other drug related home invasions and robberies that weren’t reported to police.

Investigators say on October 2nd, Hardin was involved in a vehicle chase with federal, state and local law enforcement officers on Old Beatty Ford Road in southeastern Rowan County.  Hardin was charged with felony assault on a law enforcement official with a deadly weapon as a result of the chase.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Hardin’s home on Windswept Way following the chase.  They also conducted a second search warrant on November 27th.  Between the two searches, police say they found: 646 grams of methamphetamine, 2.7 grams of cocaine, 0.5 grams of heroin, three handguns and almost $8,000 in cash, according to a news release.

Hardin is a convicted felon so it is illegal for him to possess any handguns.  Officials also say one of the handguns was reported stolen.

While searching the home on November 27th, officials say they also discovered two one-pot ‘shake and bake’ meth labs inside Hardin’s home.  Crews were called in to clear the meth labs from the home.

The investigation also revealed that Hardin was responsible for 73 pounds of methamphetamine that was brought to Rowan County for distribution, primarily from the state of Georgia, according to a news release.

Hardin was charged with two counts of trafficking 400 grams or more of methamphetamine, by possession and transportation; one count of trafficking 28 grams or more, but less than 200 grams of methamphetamine by possession; possession of cocaine; possession of heroin; two counts of possession of firearm by felon; one count of possession of a stolen firearm; one count of manufacturing methamphetamine; three counts of maintaining a dwelling for keeping and selling a controlled substance; one count of possession of immediate precursor chemicals; two counts of possess with intent to sell/deliver methamphetamine; and one count of sell/deliver methamphetamine. Bond was set at $1,000,000.

Hardin has previous felony convictions for common law robbery; larceny from the person; felony possession of cocaine; and sell/deliver a Schedule II controlled substance. Hardin is pending charges in Cabarrus County for being a habitual felon and numerous drug offenses.

The investigation continues.