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HICKORY — Hickory police arrested a Connelly Springs man after a store manager spied him talking to bushes Monday, officials said.

Phillip Hugh Norman, 40, of 9454 Jacob Fork Road, Connelly Springs, was charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Chrystal Dieter, spokeswoman for the Hickory Police Department.

Officers also found outstanding warrants for felony larceny by servants and other employees and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance from Buncombe County, according to an arrest report. Norman was given a $27,000 secured bond.

Dieter said the the call to police was made because the suspect was falling around the parking lot of the Roses on U.S. 70 SW, and speaking to bushes.

Officers arriving at the store found the suspect asleep in his parked car.

The suspect consented to be searched, Dieter added, but officers didn’t find anything on him. When they searched his car, officers found needles and a spoon.

Officials could not confirm if Norman was under the influence of any substances.