Satesville Man Facing Drug Charges After Surveillance Operation

On Friday, January 29, investigators with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit with assistance from the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SERT) executed a search warrant and served arrest warrants on Corry Drive. The target of the investigation was 54-year old James Faron Morrison of Statesville.

This investigation began when Narcotics Investigators received information about Morrison distributing narcotics from his vehicle.

Surveillance operations were established. During the operation, investigators utilized drones to watch the suspect and his activities. Reviewing traffic patterns and drone surveillance footage, investigators confirmed Morrison was in fact distributing narcotics from his vehicle and on at least one occasion, was armed with a rifle.

With warrants, Deputies found Morrison to be in possession of 84.1 grams of “Crack” Cocaine, 30.9 grams of powder Cocaine and 229.61 grams of Marijuana, five rifles, two handguns, and an amount of U.S. Currency related to narcotics trafficking. The street value of the narcotics seized was over $16,000.00 dollars.

Morrison was arrested and charged with: Three Counts of Felony Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver a Schedule II Controlled Substance, Felony Trafficking by Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance (Cocaine and Crack Cocaine), Felony Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver a Schedule VI
Controlled Substance (Marijuana), Two Counts of Felony Maintaining a Vehicle for the Sale or Use of a Controlled Substance.

Morrison was placed in the Iredell County Detention Center under a secured bond of $160,000.

Information and photo courtesy of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.