Man Sends Drug Text To Wrong Person: An Off-Duty Iredell Deputy

IREDELL COUNTY — Two Iredell County men ended up in handcuffs this week after one of them accidentally sent a Facebook message offering drugs for sale to the wrong person — an off-duty Iredell County sheriff deputy.

According to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, the deputy received the social media message Sept. 3, from Darius Jajuan Torrence, 27, who said he had Subutex — a drug used to treat opioid dependence — for sale.

During the course of the online conversation, Torrence said he wanted to sell 50 Subutex for $5 a strip, and made arrangements to meet that evening at the Loves Truck Stop location at 229 Mocksville Highway in Statesville.

Two deputies in the area observed Torrence pull into the parking lot, and stopped his vehicle. Inside was passenger Donavan Eli Lucien Paquette, 23, of Statesville.

“After further investigation it was determined Torrence never had the Subutex, and he admitted that he was going take the person’s money,” an ICSO report on the arrest said. “Torrence was questioned about the person he was messaging, and if he knew he was messaging a law enforcement officer. He said he was unaware the person was a deputy.”

Paquette told deputies he had given Torrence $140 towards buying the drug from a pharmacy.

Torrence and Paquette were taken into custody and transported to Iredell County Detention Center.

Torrence was charged with felony conspiracy to sell and deliver a Schedule III drug, and attempting to obtain property under false pretenses. His secured bond was set at $7,500. Paquette was also charged with felony conspiracy to sell and deliver a Schedule III drug, and was served with an outstanding order for arrest for failure to appear on driving with a revoked license and displaying a fictitious tag. His secured bond was set at $6,000.

“From our past experiences in narcotics investigations, we have seen people who engage in drug sales, or alleged drug sales like in this matter, arrange to meet the unsuspecting drug buyers, only to take their money, and drive away or rob them by force after they have met,” Sheriff Darren Campbell said in a statement “Our deputy thinking and acting fast last night helped possibly save someone from getting robbed."