MARION COUNTY —

Bond has been set at $50,000 for a 32-year-old Salem man who was arrested on drug and weapons charges after police initially spotted him urinating in public.

As the officer approached him, Anthony R. Hays reportedly sat down a backpack he was carrying, walked behind a nearby vehicle where he dropped down and came back to the backpack. When the officer went to search the area behind the vehicle a baggie was found containing less than 5 grams of a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine.

According to Officer Craig Vieira, Hays is currently on parole and is subject to search of his person and belongings at any time. A search of the backpack Hays was reportedly carrying also revealed an operable stun gun and what is suspected to be multiple Fentanyl pills or “beans.” The pills have been sent to the State Police Crime Lab for testing.

Hays was taken into custody and transported to the Marion County Jail where he was charged Monday in court with Class X felony armed violence for the stun gun, Class 3 felonies for possession of less than 5 grams of meth and being a felon in possession of a weapon.

Hays was released to parole in October 2021 after serving eight months of a two-year prison sentence for felony theft.