Traffic Stop In Mooresville Leads To List Of Drug Charges

MOORESVILLE, NC — A traffic stop for a simple driving violation made recently in Mooresville led to an arrest and a laundry list of charges that include felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and felony possession of drugs, according to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.

Markeith Phifer ended up of deputies radar Feb. 25, when he was seen driving suspiciously on Faith Road in Mooresville.Deputy C.S. Little following his vehicle “could smell an odor of burnt marijuana but was unsure of where it was coming from,” a Sheriff’s Office statement said.

Phifer turned into a driveway on Shearers Road, but was spotted by another deputy in the area about five minutes later. After failing to signal at a turn and driving below the speed limit, Deputy J. Buzard pulled Phifer at Faith Road and Black Angus Lane on the suspicious of driving while impaired.

While Buzard was writing Phifer a warning ticket, Little “obtained consent to search the vehicle,” the report said. The search turned up a loaded handgun, and drug paraphernalia. He was charged with driving with a revoked license, as well as carrying a concealed weapon, possession of drug paraphernalia, simple possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana drug paraphernalia and resist delay obstruct — all misdemeanors. He was released after his secured bond was set at $3,000.

Deputies discovered while processing the arrest paperwork, however, that Phifer was a convicted felon. On Feb. 28, an arrest warrant was issued for felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon against Phifer, who was eventually located at 134 Mills Valley Drive near Mooresville where he was found in a car with large quantities of drugs in plain sight, the sheriff’s report said.

In addition to the felony weapon charge, Phifer was charged with possession of hashish and psychedelic mushrooms, maintaining a vehicle for the sale of a controlled substance, and possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and hashish — all felonies.

Phifer was transferred to the Iredell County Detention Center and the Magistrate set a $60,000 secured bond for his release.

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Photo courtesy of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office