Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Charge Man With Death By Distribution

On Saturday, July 23, 2022, Patrol Deputies with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office responded to 3898 Hickory Highway west of Statesville in reference to a possible narcotics overdose.

It was determined that the victim, a 26-year old male was suffering from an apparent drug overdose. He was treated at the scene and transported to Iredell Memorial Hospital, where he later died.

Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Detectives attempted to identify any witnesses with whom the victim had contact prior to his death. The investigation revealed that Dakoda Michael Drake, age 26 of Statesville, provided Fentanyl to the victim.

An autopsy was conducted at the North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office. After months of waiting, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office recently received the Toxicology Report indicating the victim’s cause of death was confirmed as a Fentanyl overdose.

Dakoda Michael Drake was arrested on Friday, November 24, 2023. He was taken to the Iredell County Detention Center, where he was served with the arrest warrant for felony death by distribution. Drake is being held in the Iredell County Detention Center under a secured bond of $350,000.

Photo: Iredell County Sheriff’s Office