IFN Staff

Three Catawba County residents face felony drug charges following a traffic stop by an Iredell County Sheriff’s Office deputy.

Deputy T.M. Sharpe, who is assigned to the ICSO Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Team, conducted a traffic stop on a 2019 Honda Accord on Island Ford Road near Lookout Dam Road on June 7, Sheriff Darren Campbell said in a news release.

While speaking with the driver, identified as Constance Maire Mercado and her two passengers, Deputy Sharpe learned that Mercado had an outstanding order for arrest in Catawba County for possession of drug paraphernalia, Campbell said.

Deputy Sharpe requested Sgt. N. Hodges to respond to the traffic stop with Canine Levi, who gave a positive indication to the odor of narcotics inside the vehicle, according to the news release.

During a search of the occupants and vehicle, deputies located approximately 4.05 grams of cocaine and 65 dosage units of alprazolam, Campbell said. Multiple items of drug paraphernalia were also located inside the vehicle, the sheriff added.

Mercado, 32, of 9th Street SE, Conover, was arrested and charged with felony possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell, and deliver a schedule IV controlled substance, felony maintaining a vehicle for the use of a controlled substance, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Mercado received a $10,000 secured bond on those charges. She received an additional $2,500 secured bond on the outstanding order for her arrest in Catawba County. Mercado was also served with an outstanding criminal summons in Catawba County.

A passenger, Shawn Burton Ramsey, 31, of 21st Street Drive SE, Hickory, was arrested and charged with felony possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell, and deliver a schedule IV Controlled Substance, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Ramsey received a $10,000 secured bond on those charges. Ramsey was also found to have an outstanding order for his arrest in Catawba County, for which he received an additional $30,000 secured bond.

The other passenger, Scott Eric Monk, 35, of Mt. Olive Church Road, Newton, was arrested and charged with felony possession of cocaine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. He received no bond due to currently being out of jail on bond.