Sherriff Darren Campbell stated:  On Sunday February 25, 2018 Deputy. C.S. Little with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Patrol Division spotted a suspicious vehicle traveling on Faith Road near Mooresville. While following the vehicle Deputy. C.S. Little could smell an odor of burnt marijuana but was unsure of where it was coming from.

Deputy C.S. Little also noticed that the vehicle appeared to be driving overly cautious and seemed to possibly be lost, when the vehicle he was following turned into a driveway on Shears Road, Deputy C.S. Little continued north past the suspect vehicle. Approximately five minutes later the same vehicle was spotted by Deputy J. Buzard heading south, he followed the vehicle, which failed to signal at a turn, put on its turn signal after turning before turning it off again and drove below the posted speed limit. Deputy J. Buzard initiated a traffic stop based on the suspicion of driving while impaired at Faith Road and Black Angus Lane.

While Deputy. J. Buzard was issuing the driver of the vehicle, Markeith Phifer, a warning citation, Deputy. C.S. Little obtained consent to search the vehicle. During the search Deputy. C.S. Little located a loaded handgun as well as drug paraphernalia. Phifer was arrested and charged with Misdemeanor Carrying a Concealed Weapon as well as Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. C.S. Little then charged Phifer with Misdemeanor Simple Possession of Marijuana, Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor Resist Delay Obstruct and Misdemeanor Driving while License Revoked. Phifer received a 3,000 dollar secured bond from Magistrate J. Hollar.

While processing the arrest paperwork Deputy C.S. Little learned, Phifer was a convicted felon and opened an additional investigation. On Wednesday February 28, 2018 Deputy. C.S. Little obtained an arrest warrant for the charge of Felony Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon against Phifer.

 Deputy. C.S. Little, Deputy. J. Buzard and Deputy. E.A. Johnson then attempted to serve the warrant at several locations before locating Markeith Phifer in a vehicle at 134 Mills Valley Drive near Mooresville.

After approaching Phifer in the vehicle, the deputies could see in plain view inside the vehicle, a large quantity of marijuana, a quantity of THC wax or “Hashish”, Psychedelic Mushrooms, a quantity of U.S. Currency and several items of drug paraphernalia.

As a result of the follow-up investigation Deputy. C.S. Little served the warrant for Felony  Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon and obtained additional warrants for Felony Possession of Schedule VI Controlled Substance “Hashish”, Felony Possession of Schedule I   Psychedelic Mushrooms”, Felony Maintain a Vehicle for the Sale of a Controlled Substance, Felony Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Marijuana, Felony Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Hashish, Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana, Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana Drug Paraphernalia and Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Phifer was processed at the Iredell County Detention Center where Magistrate J. Hollar placed him Phifer under a 60,000.00 dollar secured bond.