Traffic Stop Leads To Cache Of Counterfeit Bills, Meth: ICSO

IREDELL COUNTY, NC — A traffic stop in Statesville led to arrests and multiple felony charges for an Iredell County man and woman over the weekend after an officer spotted a pipe used to smoke methamphetamine lying in the center console of their vehicle, according to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.

In addition to drugs, a search of the vehicle also turned up nearly $10,000 in counterfeit $100 bills, authorities said.

According to ICSO, an Iredell deputy pulled over a Ford Explorer on Bowles Farm Road in Statesville around 6 p.m. on April 14 for a traffic violation.

As the officer was speaking with the driver, who was identified as Jason Craig Connolly, 40, he spotted a glass pipe used to smoke methamphetamine on the vehicle’s center console. The officer placed Connolly in the front passenger seat of his patrol car while checking his driver’s license status, which showed he was wanted on two outstanding felony probation warrants.

Connolly was placed under arrest and his vehicle was searched due to the drug paraphernalia in plain sight, ICSO said. Deputies found methamphetamine, additional drug paraphernalia, as well as $8,300 in fake $100 bills.

Connolly’s passenger, 31-year-old Ashley Dawn Jenkins of Cleveland, was searched and was found to be in possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and $1,400 in fake $100 bills.

Both suspects were taken to the Iredell County Detention Center. Connolly, who was out on bond for felony possession of methamphetamine, and manufacture of a Schedule II substance,
was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, and felony possession of counterfeit currency. He was also charged with two felony probation violations. His secured bond was set at $30,000.

Jenkins was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and felony possession of counterfeit currency. Her secured bond was set at $7,500.