Drone Footage Of Drug Sales Leads To Arrest Of Iredell Man: ICSO

IREDELL COUNTY, NC — An Iredell County man was recently arrested and charged with numerous drug charges after sheriff's office investigators documented drug sales using drones.

According to the Iredell County Sheriff's Office, narcotics investigators received a tip that James Faron Morrison, 54, of East Greenbriar Road in Statesville was selling narcotics from his vehicle on a dirt road.

Investigators set up a surveillance operation near Twin Oaks Road and Corry Drive, ICSO said.

"During the operation, narcotics investigators utilized drones to watch the suspect, and his activities. From the observation of the traffic patterns in the area near the suspect, and drone surveillance footage, investigators were able to confirm Morrison was in fact distributing narcotics from his vehicle on Corry Drive, and one at least one occasion, Morrison was armed with a rifle."

Deputies executed a search warrant Jan. 29 and found Morrison in possession of "crack" cocaine, cocaine and marijuana with an estimated street value of $16,000. He was also in possession of five rifles, two handguns and cash in "an amount of U.S. currency related to narcotics trafficking," ICSO said.

Morrison was arrested and transported to the Iredell County Detention Center. He was 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); and two counts of felony maintaining a vehicle for the sale or use of a controlled substance.

“This case is the result of citizens, and detectives working together," Iredell Sheriff Darren Campbell said in a statement. "The community members were tired of this activity in their neighborhood," he said. "This case also proves we will use new surveillance technologies on our drones to watch, and record these drug dealers. We want dealers to know, we are watching them, and this investigation proves it."

Morrison's secured bond was set at $160,000, ICSO said.