FROM STAFF REPORTS
Two suspects, including a verified gang member, face felony drug trafficking charges following an investigation by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrests of Scottie Lewis Pawelski, 26, of Lipton Lane, Statesville, and Barbara Danielle Alexander, 33, of Parsonville Road, Purlear, in a news release Friday morning.
On Wednesday, January 18, Deputy N. Hodges and Deputy P. Ferguson were patrolling on West Memorial Highway in the area of Union Grove when they observed a vehicle traveling over the posted speed, Campbell said. The deputies then followed the vehicle to a safe location, where they performed a traffic stop.
The deputies approached the vehicle and spoke with the two occupants, identified as Pawleski and Alexander. After both individuals exhibited “very nervous behavior,” Deputy Hodges utilized his canine Levi to sniff the vehicle’s exterior, according to the news release. Levi gave a positive indication of the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle, Campbell said.
Deputy J. Garcia arrived on the scene to assist with the search of the vehicle, which yielded 264 grams of methamphetamine, along with multiple items of drug paraphernalia, according to the news release. The deputies also located ammunition in Pawleski’s pants pockets and two holsters for handguns in the vehicle, Campbell said.
Based on the amount of methamphetamine in the vehicle, the bullets in the suspect’s pants, and more than one holster in the vehicle, the deputies contacted members of the ICSO Narcotics Investigation Unit, the sheriff said.
After ICSO personnel obtained a search warrant for Pawelski’s residence on Lipton Lane, west of Statesville, the deputies and narcotics investigators located two pistols and marijuana inside the residence, according to the news release.
The total street value of the drugs seized in this investigation is $21,000, Campbell said.
As a result of the vehicle stop and the search warrant, Pawelski was charged with felony trafficking methamphetamine by possession (Level II), felony trafficking methamphetamine by transport (Level II), felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule II controlled substance, felony maintaining a vehicle for the sale or use of a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Magistrate J. Hollar issued a $750,000 secured bond on these charges.
Alexander was charged with felony trafficking methamphetamine by possession (Level II), felony trafficking methamphetamine by transport (Level II), felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule II controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Magistrate J. Hollar issued a $750,000 secured bond on these charges.
According to the ICSO, Pawelski’s criminal record includes the following charges: misdemeanor assault, misdemeanor assault on a governmental official, misdemeanor receive stolen goods, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine, and felony maintaining a vehicle for the sale or use of a controlled substance.
Pawelski is on post-release supervision from the N.C. Department of Adult Corrections for felony trafficking a Schedule II controlled substance. He is a verified member of the 83 Hoover Gang.
Alexander’s criminal history includes the following charges: two Counts of misdemeanor assault on a governmental official, two counts of misdemeanor larceny, misdemeanor financial card forgery, misdemeanor resisting a public officer, misdemeanor shoplifting, felony obtaining property by false pretense, and misdemeanor aid and abet Larceny. She is currently on probation in Wilkes County.