FROM STAFF REPORTS

A Georgia man who avoided being apprehended Wednesday morning during a pursuit by Mooresville police officers has been taken into custody.

The fugitive, identified by the Mooresville Police Department as Adrian Bentley, was located by members of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office and arrested late Wednesday morning.

There was a heightened law enforcement presence in the area surrounding Shepherd Elementary School while MPD officers and ICSO personnel searched for Bentley. The Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post that precaution was taken “out of an abundance of caution” because it was a scheduled early release day for Iredell-Statesville Schools.

MPD personnel assigned to the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force received notification on Wednesday morning that Bentley, who was wanted in Georgia and South Carolina on multiple charges, was believed to be in Mooresville.

Mooresville officers subsequently located a suspect vehicle and attempted to stop the vehicle. However, the driver of the suspect vehicle fled, according to an MPD news release.

MPD officers pursued the vehicle into Troutman, and the MPD requested assistance of the Troutman Police Department, Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, and the N.C. Highway Patrol.

Bentley, 32, abandoned the vehicle on Rankin Hill Road in the area of Sorrel Lane. After an extensive search by law enforcement, aided by K9 units, drones, and a helicopter, the suspect was apprehended by MPD and ICSO officers without incident.

Bentley of Grantville, Ga., was charged with Felony Flee to Elude, two counts of Fugitive from Justice, Speeding, Reckless Driving, and Driving without a License. Bond for the Felony Flee to Elude charge was set at $15,000. Bond for the Fugitive charges was set at $250,000. Bentley was placed in the Iredell County Detention Center under a total $265,000 secured bond.

Bentley has a Georgia parole violation for False Imprisonment, Terroristic Threats, Obstruction of Justice, Removal/Attempted Removal of Weapon from Public Official, and Sexual Battery. He has an active Georgia warrant for two counts of Aggravated Assault.

Mooresville police expressed their appreciation to the Troutman Police Department, Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, N.C. Highway Patrol and Mooresville Fire-Rescue for their assistance. The MPD also thanked Iredell County Fraternal Order of Police — Lodge 10 for providing water to law enforcement during the search.