Sheriff: Statesville man faces drug charges after being apprehended by ICSO deputy

Posted on by Mike Fuhrman

FROM STAFF REPORTS

A Statesville man faces felony drug charges after being apprehended by an Iredell County Sheriff’s Office deputy following a pursuit.

Charles Smith Jr.

Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrest of Charles Smith Jr., 33, of East Broad Street, Statesville, in a news release Wednesday.

Deputy M. Sharpe, who is assigned to the ICSO Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Team observed a motorcycle traveling east on Salisbury Road with no working taillights and a passenger who was not wearing a helmet on Monday, Campbell said.

When Deputy Sharpe got behind the motorcycle, the driver made eye contact and accelerated at a high rate of speed, according to the news release.

Smith, who driving the motorcycle, stopped on Old Salisbury Road. At that time, the deputy learned that Smith had a suspended driver’s license and the registration plate displayed on the rear of the motorcycle was fictitious, the sheriff said.

During the traffic stop, Sergeant E. Line and Canine Wilbur arrived on the scene to provide assistance to the deputy. Canine Wilbur indicated on the motorcycle and the belongings of the driver and passenger.

The deputies searched the items and located 2.71 grams of cocaine, 1.28 grams of methamphetamine, and 3.28 grams of marijuana, according to the news release.

The female passenger was issued a citation for failing to wear a helmet and released from the traffic stop.

Smith was placed under arrest and transported to the Iredell County Detention Center, where he was brought before Magistrate Callejas who issued “No Bond” on the charges of Felony Possession of Cocaine, Felony Possession of Methamphetamine, Felony Maintaining a Vehicle for a Controlled Substance, three misdemeanor drug offenses and four motor vehicle infractions.

Smith had his first court appearance on Tuesday. A judge set his bond at $100,000.

According to the ICSO, the suspect’s criminal history includes the following charges: Three counts of Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, two counts of Misdemeanor Simple Possession of Schedule IV Controlled Substance, two counts of Misdemeanor Simple Possession of Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor Shoplifting, Misdemeanor Obstruction of Justice, Misdemeanor Accessory After the Fact of Felony Breaking and Entering, three counts of Misdemeanor Larceny, three counts of Misdemeanor Resisting a Public Officer, Misdemeanor Possession of Stolen Goods, Felony Possession of Methamphetamine, Misdemeanor Littering, three counts of Driving while License Revoked, and Providing Fictitious Information to an Officer.