Drone, K-9 Unit Used In Manhunt For Suspect In Iredell County

IREDELL COUNTY, NC — A man wanted in Rowan and Cabarrus counties on outstanding warrants on domestic violence and firearm charges was found hiding in an Iredell County field after authorities deployed a drone and police dog unit, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.

Iredell County authorities were contacted by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office on June 11 and asked to help in the search for Joseph Scott Fielding, 30, who was last known to live on Fox Run Drive in Statesville.

Fielding was wanted in Rowan and Cabarrus counties on several violations of a domestic violence protection order, and firearm related charges, ICSO said. According to Iredell authorities, Fielding has been verified by the North Carolina Department of Corrections as a member of the Aryan Brotherhood.

Iredell deputies responded to the Statesville home, where they were told by Fielding’s family that he had left earlier in the day driving a white passenger car. A short time later, the vehicle was located less than a mile off Wilkesboro Highway and Snow Creek Road.

Officers responded to the area to conduct a manhunt and deployed a canine unit and a drone to search the area. Following “an extensive search,” Fielding was found hiding in a field off Wilkesboro Highway, ICSO said.

Fielding was arrested and faces charges for felony possession of methamphetamine; misdemeanor drug paraphernalia; felony probation violation; four counts of domestic violence protection order violation; felony possession of a firearm by a felon; misdemeanor assault by pointing a gun; and misdemeanor failure to heed to light and siren. He was ordered to be held with no bond on the domestic violence charges and a secured bond of $47,500 was set for the narcotics and weapon-related charges, ICSO said.